FIFA considers changes to policy that prevents league matches from being played in other countries

2024-04-09 01:42:02

NEW YORK (AP) — FIFA said it will consider changes to its policy preventing league matches from being played in other countries as part of an agreement with a soccer promoter to dismiss the world governing body from a lawsuit challenging the move.

Relevent Sports attorney Jeffrey L. Kessler filed a letter Monday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan stating that FIFA and his client agreed to the dismissal. Keller wrote that FIFA agreed to abide by any court order arising from the lawsuit, which also includes the United States Soccer Federation as a defendant. The agreement did not alter the complaint once morest the USSF.

“FIFA and Relevent have agreed to resolve this matter as far as FIFA is concerned, pending FIFA considering changing its policies regarding playing official matches outside the territory to which the league belongs,” FIFA said in the statement. “FIFA has not admitted any liability and continues to deny the legal claims alleged in Relevent’s complaint.”

Relevent, controlled by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, announced in August 2018 that it planned to host a Spanish La Liga match between Barcelona and Girona in Miami Gardens, Florida, next January.

In October 2018, FIFA said its governing council adopted a policy that “emphasizes the sporting principle that official league matches must be played within the territory of the respective member association.” Barcelona later withdrew its commitment to play in Florida.

In 2019, USSF also denied Relevent permission to sanction a league match between two teams from Ecuador.

Relevent filed a lawsuit alleging violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and tortious interference.

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