AC Milan’s on-loan midfielder David Beckham will return to Los Angeles Galaxy after the World Cup, the head of Major League Soccer (MLS) said on Tuesday.
Don Garber, addressing delegates at the Soccerex business convention, said Beckham’s move to the U.S. had been a success and dismissed media speculation the England player would decide against returning when the finals in South Africa were over.
Major League Soccer will continue to negotiate with their players union for another two weeks as they try to reach a new collective bargaining agreement.
The current five-year deal is scheduled to expire at the end of January and there has been talk of a lockout or a players strike.
The dispute between rival second tier leagues in the United States and Canada was resolved on Thursday when the U.S. Soccer Federation announced a compromise had been reached for next season.
Two of the most senior players in Major League Soccer have criticized the league as their union and management struggle to find a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) ahead of a Jan. 31 deadline. MLS is a ’single entity’ league with the CBA governing player contracts, salaries and legal status. Contracts are owned by the league rather than individual clubs.
D.C. United goalkeeper Josh Wicks, who was ejected from the U.S. Open Cup final last month for misconduct, has been suspended an additional four tournament games (five total) by the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Overshadowed by D.C. United’s second-half collapse and damaging loss Sunday was the controversial decision by referee Baldomero Toledo to stop play so quickly after goalkeeper Josh Wicks went down and then restart the match with a drop ball eight yards from the net.
Chivas USA midfielder Marcelo Saragosa received a two-game suspension rather than a one-game penalty for his ejection against Seattle last weekend. Saragosa got a red card for putting his cleats into the face of Fredy Montero as both went for a ball in the 71st minute of a 0-0 tie Saturday.
David Beckham was fined $1,000 by Major League Soccer, which said his gestures toward taunting fans suggested that they leave their seats and come on the field.
The fine by MLS commissioner Don Garber on Friday came five days after the English star confronted Los Angeles Galaxy fans in a group called the L.A. Riot Squad. [...]