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Portland Timbers defender Pablo Bonilla, left, and LA Galaxy forward Cristian Pavon vie for the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer matc
Sporting calendar hit by regional instability with tournaments in the Gulf abandoned
THE 2021 Major League Soccer season will kick off on April 17 after the league and the MLS Players Association (MLSPA) came to an agreement in their latest round of labour negotiations.
The new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) runs until the end of the 2027 season, and the league’s offer of no pay cuts or reduction in bonuses would have been the key leverage in getting players to agree.
These new negotiations raised the prospect of a lockout, or player strike, ahead of the 2021 season. But many players could not afford to be without the certainty of being paid in full for their work in these uncertain times.
With climate change, commercial overload and endless fixtures, footballers are being pushed to breaking point. It’s time their unions became a more powerful, unified force, writes JAMES NALTON
JAMES NALTON discusses the use of dynamic ticket pricing at the 2026 World Cup and how it amplifies a culture already set up to squeeze as much money from fans as possible
