FIFA says it will consider changes to its policy that would ban league matches from being played in other countries. The changes are part of an agreement with a promoter to clear the global governing body of a lawsuit challenging that policy.
Relevant sports lawyer Jeffrey L. Kessler filed a letter with a Manhattan court on Monday stating that FIFA and his client agreed to the dismissal. Keller wrote that FIFA agreed to comply with any order resulting from the lawsuit, which also includes US Soccer as a defendant. The agreement did not change the lawsuit against US Soccer.
“FIFA and Relevent have agreed to resolve this matter as it concerns FIFA, pending FIFA’s consideration of changes to existing FIFA policy regarding the playing of official season matches outside a competition’s home territory” , FIFA said in a 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 La Liga match between Barcelona and Girona in Miami Gardens, Florida, in January.
In October 2018, FIFA said its ruling council had adopted a policy that “emphasized the sporting principle that official competitive matches should be played in the territory of the relevant member association.” Barcelona subsequently withdrew its commitment to play in Florida.
Relevent also was denied permission by US Soccer in 2019 to sanction a league match between two teams from Ecuador. Relevent sued the governing bodies, claiming violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and tortious interference.
“Bringing official competitions from Europe to the US is an exciting proposition, but it must be done thoughtfully and collaboratively,” Relevent CEO Daniel Sillman said in a statement. “We look forward to working with FIFA to support the global growth of the game and the world’s best competitions.”
Caproni granted US Soccer’s request to dismiss the antitrust claim in July 2021, but the case was reinstated by the Second US Court of Appeals in March 2023. U.S. Soccer asked the U.S. Supreme Court in August to hear the case, and the Joe Biden administration said last month that the Supreme Court should uphold the decision on appeal.
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“Fifa and Relevent Sports have agreed to resolve this issue specifically for FIFA, while FIFA considers changes to existing rules on whether matches can be played outside a competition’s home territory,” the promoter said in a statement. “Relevent Sports looks forward to supporting FIFA as both parties work to grow the game.”