MLS, MLSPA Reach Consensus Regarding New Collective Bargaining Agreement

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Major League Soccer season will go ahead as scheduled after all as the league and it’s Players Association finally came to an agreement regarding the CBA and dismissed any threat of a lockout.

“Major League Soccer and the Major League Soccer Players Association today reached a tentative agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The agreement, covering the next seven years from 2021 through 2027, is subject to the approval of the MLS Board of Governors and the membership of the MLSPA,” the statement reads.

MLS Statement on CBA Negotiations pic.twitter.com/aWV7uUr2NN

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 6, 2021

Both parties agreed that the CBA will run starting now up until 2027. Prior to the agreement, the confusion between the two parties occurred as the Players Association was fighting for the CBA to end in 2026 whereas the league was adamant on concluding in 2027.

The negotiations between the two parties began on December 29th when the league invoked a force majeure clause following the 2020 season that wreaked financial havoc on the league as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber issued a statement during his “State of the League Address” claiming the league had lost $1 billion in revenue due to the financial impact of the global coronavirus pandemic.

The negotiations surrounding the timeline of the CBA were a direct result of the financial status of the league following the conclusion of the 2020 season.

Nonetheless, the league can continue as planned in 2021. Players will receive full compensation with pre-season scheduled to begin on February 22nd and the season to start on April 3rd.

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