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Clubs punished for homegrown violations

By Anthony Rotz

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 05: Commissioner of Major League Soccer Don Garber attends the match between Philadelphia Union and Los Angeles FC as part of the MLS Cup Final 2022 at Banc of California Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 05: Commissioner of Major League Soccer Don Garber attends the match between Philadelphia Union and Los Angeles FC as part of the MLS Cup Final 2022 at Banc of California Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images) /
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Major League Soccer papered over the cracks with their 2022 Homegrown rule changes and is now facing the consequences.

MLS has punished several clubs, including the Philadelphia Union, following many youth recruitment violations per Paul Tenorio of The Athletic. So far, these punishments include “fines”, loss of homegrown sports, and more notably “forced trades”. These so-called trades involve violators sending the aggrieved undisclosed amounts of General Allocation Money.

MLS institutes “territories” for each club. Teams must submit a list of 54 “protected players” U-15 and below, 45 in their academy, and up to nine who live in the territory but do not play for the academy. Teams have violated these rules to sign players outside of their territories.

Over the last several years, we’ve seen the value and volume of MLS exports increase as the league prioritizes development and sales. These violations serve as a slap in the face to those who see missed financial opportunities within their designated zone. Meanwhile, those doing the violations may see the consequences as simply part of an investment.

Hopefully, this serves to nudge the league into the end of “territories”.

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