The USSF declined to recognize a league game between Ecuador’s Barcelona and Guayaquil in Miami Gardens, Florida, leading to a lawsuit by Relevant Sports, owned by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. A federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday that a promoter’s claim against FIFA and the U.S. Soccer Association, which had been dismissed by a lower court judge, can move forward to trial.
The USSF had cited a FIFA policy from 2018 that said that its governing council “stressed the sporting premise that official league matches must be played inside the jurisdiction 토토 of the respective member association” in support of their denial.
In a judgment authored by Judge Raymond J. Lohier Jr., the 2nd Circuit stated that a three-judge panel disagreed with a lower court judge who stated that Relevent required to have proof that the soccer companies had formally agreed to implement the 2018 policy in advance.
The policy itself violates antitrust laws, and its implementation is clear proof of cooperation between the parties, according to Relevent’s lawsuit, it was said.
After the USSF declined to authorize the league game between Barcelona and Guayaquil in 2018–19, Relevent filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court in 2019. Then, citing antitrust legislation, it dropped the state action and filed the claims in federal court, also in 2019. The American Justice Department informed FIFA in 2020 that a ban on holding league matches abroad would be illegal under American antitrust rules.
“Today’s ruling is an important victory for both American soccer and the global growth of the game,” Relevent said in a statement. “By paving the way for the best teams and players from football clubs around the world to compete in competitive matches in the United States, more fans will have the chance to witness the sport being played at its highest level and directly 토토사이트 experience all that it has to offer.”
FIFA stated that it was unsure whether it would make a comment. A request for comment was not answered by USSF CEO JT Batson. The U.S. women’s national soccer team members who settled their $24 million pay and gender discrimination case with the USSF are represented by Jeffrey Kessler on behalf of Relevent.