MLS PLAYERS APPROVE NEW DEAL

A labour impasse between Major League Soccer and its players has reportedly been resolved. On Wednesday, MLS players voted to approve a new collective bargaining agreement, providing economic relief to team owners hit hard by the COVID-19 shutdown. Players in multiple markets — including the three Canadian MLS teams — opted this week not to take part in training as the MLSPA and MLS locked horns. The prospect of a lockout surfaced

Sunday when MLS reportedly pushed back against the players’ proposal to take a 7.5 per cent pay cut rather than accept an 8.75 per cent reduction and opposed the players’ demand for a greater share of revenue from broadcast rights. The MLS is considering a plan to bring all players down to Walt Disney World near Orlando this month to begin training for a tournament-style format that would start in July and involve all 26 teams.