Inter Miami has already made history in the United States Professional Soccer League (MLS) and it has not been precisely because of their good football or triumphs but because they have violated the salary budget regulations that have cost them a fine of two million dollars, the greatest of all time.
The league also imposed on the Miami organization a reduction of 2,272 million dollars in the allocation section, which will be distributed between the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Based on a total available of $ 19.2 million in those two seasons, the money penalty per assignment amounts to 11.9% of Inter Miami’s salary budget during that time.
In addition, the league also issued a personal fine of $ 250,000 to Inter Miami’s managing owner Jorge Mas.
MLS announced last March that it was opening an investigation into the hiring of French midfielder Blaise Matuidi and whether he was complying with the league’s salary budget and current guidelines.
The result of the investigation could not have been more devastating and humiliating for Inter Miami in its management as it was found that there were all kinds of irregularities not only with Matuidi but also with the Colombian Andrés Reyes, who is no longer with the team, a militant with the New York Red Bulls, and the acquisitions of the Argentine Leandro González Pirez, Nicolás Figal and Julián Carranza.
The league has not wanted to involve the players and has limited itself to saying that they had committed any infraction or knew of anything in which the team participated.
While the fines are significant, the money allocation fine amounts to a major blow to Inter Miami and should significantly affect the team’s ability to present a competitive roster.
The sanctions dwarf the previous record fine of $ 150,000, which was imposed in 2015 on Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen for comments he made about ongoing collective bargaining.
Additionally, former Miami sports director / COO Paul McDonough, who held that position in 2020 before assuming the role of athletic director at Atlanta United FC this season, has been suspended by the league until the 2022 season.
As soon as McDonough was suspended, Atlanta Unitede decided to dismiss him from the organization.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber reiterated in an official statement that “The integrity of our rules is sacrosanct, and it is a fundamental principle of our league that our clubs are responsible for adhering to all league regulations.”
Garber was categorical in admitting that the violations had been “very serious” and cautioned that he expected full collaboration from all teams in the league and that there would be no concession to those who try to violate them again.
For its part, Inter Miami, also through a statement, Mas acknowledged that they had violated MLS rules throughout the first season in the league.
Then he limited himself to saying that they had worked closely with the league and now felt more strengthened as a team in order to build a solid and sustainable long-term future with the presence of Chris Henderson as their new sporting director from this year.
«Inter Miami is an ambitious club with great aspirations. We believe that our fan base, market and ownership group propel us to be one of the most followed North American soccer teams in the world. We are committed to supporting our team and building the exemplary workforce, “added Mas.
In addition, the league has also established Inter Miami, which is also owned by former England player David Beckham, to develop a plan to ensure compliance with the league’s salary budget rules.
That plan will be delivered to the MLS next Monday at the latest and without which they will not be able to operate in the future either.
The MLS has long used a salary budget to limit compensation costs for players.
These amounts are collectively bargained with the MLS Players Association. The total allowed for 2020 is $ 9.225 million, increasing to $ 9.325 in 2022 and then $ 9.83 million in 2023.
Most Designated Player salaries are not counted in the salary budget, but teams are limited to three Designated Players per season. EFE (HN)