RENTON — Just about 24 hours from the start of the Club World Cup, there’s still no deal on how to share the prize pool between MLS players and ownership.
A week ago, owners offered to give players an additional 20% of potential performance bonuses on top of the $1 million they’re already guaranteed, and a day later players countered with a request for 40% of the entire prize pool. There’s apparently been no movement either way since then.
Although the players clearly aren’t happy, they say there’s no plan to actually boycott matches.
“We’ve worked so hard to get to this stage and this tournament, we earned it,” Sounders midfielder Albert Rusnák said. “I don’t think sitting out is an option.
“What we have inside as athletes and as winners, we want to prove the people wrong, whether we’re talking about the bonuses or people not believing we can do anything because we’re in a group of death. That winner’s mentality that we have in each of us is bigger than our egos and our belief in what’s fair.”
While there might not be a resolution, Rusnák is confident the Sounders can put that aside.
“Once we start playing games, I don’t think that’s on your mind,” Rusnák said. “We’re all athletes, we’re all trying to win the game no matter what. Once the game starts, you’re in game mode.”
None of that necessarily means the players are willing to admit defeat.
MLS PA Executive Director Bob Foose told Sounder at Heart that negotiations over the Club World Cup bonuses could potentially stretch well past the tournament.
“Collective bargaining exists on a continuum and it will continue and we’ll need to continue to reach agreement on lots of things,” Foose said. “Their approach here is noted. It has certainly left a mark on the player pool and continues to leave a mark on the player pool. Our guys will digest that and we will adjust our approach according to what players want to do. There’s not a direct link to x and y but it all matters and it all has an impact.
“It’s not helpful. This has not made reaching future agreements easier and that’s unfortunate.”
Flag raising
Steve Zakuani and Brad Evans were joined by Sounders minority owner Ken Griffey Jr. and recording artist Yonny to raise the club’s flag above the Space Needle on Friday.
World’s largest soccer lesson
The Sounders announced that they’ve maxed out their RSVP’s for what they hope will be a new Guinness World Record for largest soccer lesson. The lesson will be held at Pier 62 on Sunday at 3 PM. If you’d like to get on the waitlist, you can add your name here.
