Beckham’s MLS team cheated budget rules

DAVID BECKHAM’S Inter Miami are expected to face sanctions after a Major League Soccer investigation found they broke budget regulations when they signed France midfielder Blaise Matuidi last year.

MLS have determined that when Matuidi, 34, joined from Juventus in August 2020, he should have been a designated player due to the size of his salary.

Instead, Inter Miami listed him as a Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) player and saved their three designated player slots for Gonzalo Higuain, Rodolfo Pizarro and Matias Pellegrini.

The designated player rule — under which certain players’ wages do not count towards the salary cap — was introduced to facilitate Beckham’s move to LA Galaxy in 2007.

An MLS statement said: ‘The league has concluded that Inter Miami was not in compliance with the roster and budget rules during the 2020 season.

‘Matuidi was categorised as a TAM player in 2020. Matuidi’s compensation was above the compensation limit for a TAM player.’

The league said they were still finalising their investigation and will make a full announcement, including sanctions, shortly.

In response to the ruling, Inter Miami have completed a buyout of Pellegrini’s contract and sent the 21-year-old on loan to their USL affiliate Fort Lauderdale for the season. The Argentinian will not be eligible to play for Phil Neville’s side during the 2021 campaign.

‘We’ve been working with Matias and MLS to reach an agreement, and at this time we believe this is the best option for all parties,’ said Inter Miami sporting director Chris

Henderson. Beckham (above) is the co-owner of Inter Miami and president of soccer operations. In their debut campaign they finished 10th in the Eastern Conference, losing in the first round of the play-offs under former head coach Diego Alonso.

Former England Women’s coach Neville was appointed in January, and his side will begin their season against LA Galaxy on Sunday.