MLS passes 'Beckham Rule'
November 12, 2006
MAJOR League Soccer teams will be allowed to sign high-profile players such as David Beckham, Ronaldo or Luis Figo after club owners today (AEDT) approved a change to their salary-cap regulations.
The "Beckham Rule" will give MLS teams the authority to acquire players outside the $US2 million ($2.61 million) per-team salary cap, which will be "significantly" increased to accommodate the new policy, said MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis.
MLS, which for 11 years has paid all players out of a central fund under its "single-entity" structure, will be responsible for up to $US400,000 ($521,410) of the player's salary, but the rest will paid for by the team.
Each team initially will receive one "designated player" roster slot, which can be traded among teams. No team, however, will be allowed more than two designated players.
"We believe this league has established a solid foundation over 11 years," said MLS commissioner Don Garber.
"Now it's time refocus our efforts to make our games more exciting than they already are."
The decision comes a day before the league's MLS Cup championship between the New England Revolution and Houston Dynamo, and a day after MLS announced a rule change that will allow teams to sign players out of their own youth development systems without subjecting them to the draft.
The Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls have been linked in reports to Beckham, who is under contract with Real Madrid but has a youth academy at the Galaxy's Home Depot Centre.
MLS passes 'Beckham Rule'
Moderators: BillShankly, arxidi, ruud, Judge Judy, Forum Admins
