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Contract Negotiation Soccer

MLS Is Looking To Bend It Like Beckham

Did you know that Major League Soccer teams operate under a $1.6 to $2 million salary cap (3 sources gave 3 different figures)?  I definitely was unaware of this fact until I heard about a new rule that allows MLS teams to get around the restriction.  The MLS has adopted the Beckham Rule, which will allow each team to go over the salary cap to sign an extra player.  As per the current agreement, the MLS will still pay for the players (instead of the team’s paying), but the individual teams will have to pay any money for the player that exceeds $400,000 [MLS Adopts the Beckham Rule].  It is also being called the Designated Player Rule, and will be in effect until the end of the 2009 MLS season [New MLS competition initiatives unveiled].

Benefits of the new rule include keeping big name players in the MLS from going overseas and enticing international superstars to sign with MLS clubs.  If you were hesitant about becoming a soccer Sports Agent before due to the stringent MLS salary cap, this new rule changes the scenery a little bit.  Top dollars may be spent for players like Beckham (coincidentally the name of the rule) to come to the U.S.  If you get your hands on one of these stars, there may be much money to be made.

The rule is exciting for soccer in the United States, and Designated Player Slots are already being traded between teams [Arena Discussed Bullish Move To Trade Guevara].

-Darren Heitner 

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

2 replies on “MLS Is Looking To Bend It Like Beckham”

Interesting. Would like to point out quick that in the latest annual reader survey in Sports Business Journal, MLS was named property/organization with “the most growth potential.” The Beckham rule will help, though ultimately it may take nothing short of Beckham himself in L.A. to help the league hark back to the glory days of Pele competing here.

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