Tag: MLS

Please enjoy 5 minutes of an MLS grounds crew trying to get a raccoon off the field

This raccoon had some moves on the pitch!

Most of the time, when the field of play is invaded at a sporting event, it’s quite annoying. Most of the time.

The exception is when the invader happens to have paws.

Which brings us to Subaru Park in Philadelphia where the Union were hosting NYCFC in some midweek MLS action on Wednesday night. Barely 20 minutes into the action, play was halted thanks to a raccoon that somehow made its way into the stadium, got down to field level and made itself at home on the pitch.

It took nearly five minutes before the grounds crew could safely capture the critter and the video is all the zen you need today.

Shoutout to the broadcast crew for giving us their best Kevin Harlan impression. NYCFC won the game 2-1 after the interruption and it’s not hard to see why. The home fans just couldn’t get back into the game after the raccoon was taken away.

But fear not! Our hero has been released back into the wild to hopefully teach all of his friends about the beautiful game.

Raccoon on the field! Critter joins Philadelphia Union vs. NYCFC match

Folks, this is not a drill, we have a raccoon on the field

The Philadelphia Union and New York City FC were honored by the presence of a raccoon who made the bold but indisputably correct choice to join the Wednesday night MLS clash.

The racoon strolled out around the 21st minute, setting up shop in the NYCFC penalty area as play carried on at the other end of the Subaru Park pitch.

Pro Soccer Wire cannot confirm whether NYCFC is interested in signing the raccoon as a goalkeeper, defender, or at some other position.

Expertly reading that the game was going on at the other end with an NYCFC throw-in, the raccoon jogged up to join the teams and presumably try to engage in soccer.

Sadly, the staff at Subaru Park preferred for the game to remain an 11-on-11 affair, and two people emerged from the touchline carrying empty gray trash cans.

Raccoons, of course, have a hot-and-cold relationship with trash cans: when full, they contain what any procyon lotor will tell you is an array of delightful and interesting food.

When empty, however, the trash can is a trap, and raccoons everywhere will surely take note of how things went down. Multiple staffers with multiple trash cans emerged, and though the raccoon put in some great moves to avoid several attempts to slow it down, the end result was…well, the raccoon got trapped in a trash can.

NYCFC’s Mitja Ilenič could scarcely believe his good fortune as the scene played out in front of him, while Union players — one assumes out of a fear that the raccoon would be allowed to join the visitors — looked less amused.

This raccoon followed in the footsteps of other animals interrupting recent Union games. Back in March 2023, a dog graced Philadelphia and Salvadoran club Alianza with its presence during a Concacaf Champions League match.

Curiously, the Union aren’t the mid-Atlantic team associated with raccoons, an honor long held by D.C. United. However, since the club’s move from RFK Stadium — well known as a major attraction for raccoons — to Audi Field, raccoon sightings have plummeted down to zero.

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Messi questionable for Orlando City match after picking up new injury

The Argentine superstar is in doubt for Wednesday night’s rivalry match

Lionel Messi could be set to miss Inter Miami’s match against rival Orlando City after picking up a knock over the weekend, assistant coach Javier Morales said.

Messi was on the receiving end of a rough challenge from CF Montréal defender George Campbell on Saturday. The Argentine star received treatment on his knee before eventually returning to a match Miami won 3-2.

As he waited to re-enter the match, Messi decried the new MLS rule that requires players who stay down injured for longer than 15 seconds to leave the field for at least two minutes.

Though Messi was able to finish the match, Morales revealed on Tuesday that the 36-year-old is experiencing some lingering effects that could sideline him for Wednesday’s game in Orlando.

“We are going to check Messi today, see how he feels today during the training session and then make a decision,” Morales said. “Yesterday, he did the bike and jogged a little bit and felt his knee a little bit but we’ll see how he is today.

“He suffered a hit to the knee on Saturday vs. Montréal, he continued playing through the end of the game and then iced it when finished. He trained with the players yesterday who did regenerative work, with the bicycle and a bit of jogging on the field.

“Now, like the rest of the players, we will evaluate them to see how they feel and who is ready.”

Messi has been near-unstoppable in MLS play this season, tallying 10 goals and 12 assists in just nine total games. The match at Montréal was the first time in 2024 that Messi didn’t have a goal contribution in a game.

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Jesse Marsch has a ridiculous job title thanks to Canada’s broke federation

The owners of MLS’s three Canadian teams had to offer some assistance to hire Marsch

Jesse Marsch was a fairly eye-opening hire for the Canadian men’s national team.

Sure, Marsch isn’t Carlo Ancelotti, but he’s a manager with plenty of top-notch experience, coaching in the Premier League as recently as last season. For Canada, he was one of the best realistic options to lead the team through the 2026 World Cup.

But hold on a moment. Canada’s federation is broke, isn’t it? It was, after all, just last year that the “B” word was thrown around by Canada Soccer’s general secretary. So how did they afford to hire Marsch?

The answer can be found in the new job title of Canada’s men’s national team head coach. Or should we say, the MLS Canada men’s national team head coach.

Lacking the funds to adequately compensate Marsch, Canada Soccer went hat in hand to the owners of MLS’s three Canadian teams. They delivered, but with some weird strings attached.

Per a Canada Soccer press release:

The appointment of Marsch is assisted by major philanthropic contributions from the owners of the three Canadian-based MLS clubs – Vancouver Whitecaps, Joey Saputo, and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment – and supplemented by other private donors. In recognition of their significant philanthropic support, Marsch’s position will be formally titled as the MLS Canada Men’s National Team Head Coach during the term of his initial contract. This type of donor recognition is common at universities and hospitals, in NCAA sports, and is starting to be used in the Canadian sport system – for example, with the Stollery Family Women’s National Team Head Coach support at Golf Canada.

These commitments are part of a forthcoming major gifts program that will provide Canadian philanthropists with a structured opportunity to support Canada Soccer programs of all types – including the Men’s and Women’s National Team systems, from youth teams up through the senior national teams.

Now, it’s great that these owners wanted to offer their, um, philanthropic support, but is that title really necessary? Couldn’t they have just pitched in without having to bestow some kind of paradoxical riddle on their new coach?

Is Marsch the coach of Canada, or a MLS coach? The answer, apparently, is yes.

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NYCFC coach Cushing denies allegation he punched Toronto FC player

TFC head coach John Herdman has leveled a very serious charge against the NYCFC boss

New York City FC head coach Nick Cushing has “categorically” denied an allegation that he punched a Toronto FC player at halftime of a game in March.

NYCFC and TFC played out a contentious match on Saturday night, with players and coaches alike involved in a heated on-field scuffle after the game at BMO Field.

After the match, which NYCFC won 3-2, TFC head coach John Herdman and captain Jonathan Osorio said the altercation was partially due to an incident that had taken place two months earlier.

“Their coach talks and says things to certain players that crosses the line,” Osorio said in a post-game press conference. “When we hear their coach and three players cornered a 19-year-old of ours by himself, that’s going to be a problem. We were just letting them know we didn’t forget about that.”

Herdman was later asked directly about Cushing’s behavior during the March 16 match at Yankee Stadium.

“That was the off-record report that came into the dressing room at halftime from a 19-year-old who said he got cornered and punched in the face,” Herdman said.

Neither Herdman nor Osorio mentioned the TFC player in question, but the only 19-year-old on the team’s senior roster is Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty.

On Monday, Cushing spoke to the press and denied the charges made by Toronto’s coach and captain.

“I categorically deny any involvement or any incident where I have punched or assaulted any Toronto FC player or staff,” Cushing said.

“I am shocked, personally. I’m upset by the allegation.”

Cushing added that he was not aware of the allegation until after TFC’s post-game press conference on Saturday.

The MLS Disciplinary Committee is set to examine footage of the most recent altercation between NYCFC and TFC, and will hand out any punishment later this week.

No punishments were given after the March game at Yankee Stadium.

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Giroud confirms MLS move as striker announces AC Milan departure

The is set to join longtime international teammate Hugo Lloris with LAFC

Veteran striker Olivier Giroud has announced he will leave AC Milan to continue his career in MLS.

The 37-year-old has been reported to be on his way to Los Angeles FC, where he’ll sign after leaving Milan as a free agent at the end of the current campaign.

On Monday, the France striker made his Milan departure official in a video released through the club’s official media channels.

“I’m here to tell you the next two games will be my last for Milan,” Giroud said. “My career will continue in MLS.

“I’m very, very proud of everything I’ve done for Milan in these three years. It’s the right time to announce it. Sorry, I’m a bit emotional. My story with Milan ends this year but Milan will remain in my heart forever.”

Giroud is tied for fourth in the Serie A scoring charts this season, tallying 14 league goals for the Rossoneri. The striker helped Milan win the Serie A title in 2021-22, his first season with the club after joining from Chelsea.

With 57 goals in 131 caps, Giroud is France’s all-time leading men’s national team scorer. He is expected to be part of the team’s roster this summer for Euro 2024.

After that tournament, the forward is set to join longtime international teammate Hugo Lloris with the Black & Gold.

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Messi finds camera, tells whole world he loathes new MLS rule

Messi made sure everyone watching knew how he felt about one new MLS regulation

MLS has some new rules, and Lionel Messi thinks at least one of them should go.

During Inter Miami’s 3-2 win at CF Montréal, Messi quite literally looked into a broadcast camera to announce his take on MLS’s new guidelines for players who need to leave the field for treatment.

Under the new regulations, a player who stays down injured for longer than 15 seconds must leave the field for a minimum of two minutes, and is not allowed back until the referee waves them on.

Messi got to give the new rule a spin after an ugly 40th minute challenge from Montréal defender George Campbell on Saturday.

Messi understandably stayed down for well over a minute after the heavy contact with his shin and foot. Since referee Drew Fischer didn’t book Campbell, Messi was required to trudge off the field with Miami’s training staff.

The icon got to the touchline at Stade Saputo in the 43rd minute, watching on as play resumed for only a few seconds. The next stoppage? Another Montréal foul, this time with Samuel Piette clipping Luis Suárez in prime territory for Messi to fire a direct free kick on goal.

However, Fischer enforced the new regulations, meaning Messi had to stand on and watch. That’s when Messi offered up his take on the rule, which was the product of some experimentation in MLS Next Pro dating back to the 2022 season.

Finding a midfield camera and looking directly into it, Messi shook his head and said in Spanish “With this type of rule, we are doing badly.”

With 10 men on the pitch and Messi essentially rolling his eyes, the Herons got a remedy to their complaints.

Matías Rojas stepped in for Messi on the dead ball, delivering a sensational, curling free kick from nearly 30 yards out.

Messi would have to continue standing on the touchline until the 45th minute, when fourth official Michael Venne allowed the No. 10 to make his way back into the match.

If that weren’t enough, Miami ran afoul of another new MLS rule in the game’s final moments. Protecting a narrow lead as stoppage time loomed, Suárez was replaced by Leo Campana. However, the Uruguayan took longer than the maximum of 10 seconds MLS has mandated for players to leave the field.

The league has issued a new rule where, in that situation, the substitute entering play must wait a full minute before coming on. Venne enforced the rule, setting off vociferous protests from Suárez, Campana, and Miami manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino (who at least recovered his composure to drag Suárez away before the situation got worse).

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Union sign Sullivan, 14, to Homegrown contract with Man City clause

The teenager has been described as the best prospect in the world in his age group

The Philadelphia Union have announced the signing of 14-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan to the richest Homegrown Player contract in MLS history.

Per multiple reports, Sullivan’s contract includes a clause that will see him join Premier League champion Manchester City when he turns 18.

“Cavan is undeniably a rare and extraordinary talent. At just 14 years old his natural skill and vision are far beyond his years,” said Union sporting director Ernst Tanner. “His advanced soccer IQ, paired with his ability to read plays, advance the ball, and score, show just how high his ceiling will be.”

Sullivan will join his brother Quinn, 20, on the Union’s first team.

“I’ve been watching my home team, the Union, for as long as I remember and hoped that one day I’d get the chance to play for my city in front of my family, friends, and fans,” Sullivan said. “Being able to not only play for the Union but to be able to play with my brother is a dream come true.”

Should the U.S. youth international debut for the Union on or before July 29, he will become the youngest player ever in the top North American professional sports leagues (MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, NWSL).

In an interview with ESPN, Sullivan confirmed the Man City clause in his deal, saying it was a major factor in his decision to begin his pro career with his hometown club.

“I also think the collaboration between the Union and the City Group was — I think that did it for me. I always watch Man City. They’re like every kid’s dream team. For them [Philadelphia and Man City] to come together and agree on something — I sat with my family and my agents and we decided that it was the best plan.”

The Athletic reported that City will pay up to $5 million for Sullivan.

Sullivan made his pro debut in March, coming on as a substitute for Philadelphia Union II in MLS Next Pro and promptly delivering a game-winning assist.

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