A New York federal jury on Monday delivered a decisive verdict against the North American Soccer League (NASL), rejecting its $500 million lawsuit that accused Major League Soccer (MLS) and the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) of conspiring to undermine the now-defunct league.
After three weeks of testimony and evidence in Brooklyn federal court, the jury deliberated for just one day before ruling that NASL failed to establish the existence of a defined market for membership in a Division I or Division II men’s soccer league. As a result, they were instructed not to address any remaining questions in the case.
MLS and U.S. Soccer Celebrate Legal Victory
In response to the verdict, U.S. Soccer issued a statement expressing satisfaction with the jury’s decision, calling it a validation of its efforts to support a diverse and competitive soccer ecosystem in the U.S.
Similarly, MLS applauded the ruling, stating that the lawsuit was merely an attempt by NASL to shift blame for its own demise.
NASL’s Allegations and Legal Battle
NASL, which operated as a second-division league under U.S. Soccer from 2011 until its collapse in 2018, initially filed its lawsuit in 2017 after the federation stripped it of its Division II status. The league alleged that MLS and U.S. Soccer conspired to prevent its growth, thereby shielding MLS from potential competition.
