This should be EYE OPENING

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Do you think Kydes at Beachside would take a similar approach if put presented with the same situaion?

He'd be in the Bahamas

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Anyway - it is not possible to institute the solidarity payment system here because that requires minors committing contractually to stay with a particular club and I dont think that is legal here.

Next...




-you only think you know.

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From ESPN Soccer Yesterday: The academy director of PA Classics, the youth club that helped produce U.S. international Christian Pulisic, says he is "90 percent" sure that the club will not pursue a claim for solidarity payments in the wake of the player's transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea.

On Wednesday, it was announced that Chelsea will pay Dortmund $73.1 million to acquire Pulisic, a record for an American player, and more than triple the $22 million that Bundesliga side Vfl Wolfsburg paid for defender John Brooks in 2017.

FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) stipulate that when a player is transferred from one club to another prior to the end of the player's contract, and that transfer involves moving to another country -- a change of association, according to FIFA -- then upwards of five percent of the fee is paid to the youth clubs that developed the player in the form of a "solidarity payment."

But the U.S. Soccer Federation has long forbidden the implementation of RSTP in the U.S. Among the reasons cited are fears that RSTP violates child labor laws or would result in litigation on anti-trust grounds by various stakeholders, including the MLS Players Association, who feel that enforcement of RSTP could restrict the flow of players to foreign clubs. The USSF has also contended that a consent decree contained in the legal case Fraser vs. MLS, one that prevented the payment of transfer fees for out-of-contract players, prohibited it from enforcing RSTP.

Based on the most conservative estimate of Pulisic's tenure with PA Classics, the club would be entitled to at least $548,000. If Pulisic's time were to include the period spent in residency with the U.S. Under-17s, a time where he was still registered as a PA Classics player, that amount could exceed $1 million. But Steve Klein, who serves as the coaching director and academy director of PA Classics, is leaning towards not pushing to receive the money.

"We haven't made a decision yet. I would say 90 percent 'no,' that we don't move forward with anything," said Klein, who in addition to his responsibilities with PA Classics has served as an assistant on various U.S. youth national teams. "I know it goes against some of the conventional wisdom. I know a lot of people would like us to, but there's still a part of me that [feels] Christian made himself. I don't like being on the side that we are due this money because we created Christian Pulisic. That's where my comfort level drops. We were a part of it, but I don't know if I like trying to gain off of his success."

Other U.S-based youth clubs have been more aggressive in their bids to receive the funds they believe they are owed. Washington-based club Crossfire Premier currently has a claim in front of FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber related to the 2014 transfer of U.S. international defender DeAndre Yedlin to Tottenham. A decision is expected any day.

Klein said his reluctance is also influenced by the fact that PA Classics is a pay-to-play club, and has already been compensated in terms of developing its players.

"If we were a club that wasn't pay-to-play, it would be a whole different ball game," he said. "Our kids pay to play, so that's how we make our money. Now, we scholarship a lot of kids, but that's where the difference is for me a little bit. If we were one of those European clubs where everyone is free, or an MLS club where everyone is free, and signed him as a pro ... we're not even a pro club."

Klein admits that the lure of receiving the money is tempting, but that it wouldn't necessarily cover much of the team's budget, especially if they hired a lawyer.

"If you fully funded one academy age group like the U17s, you're probably looking at $300,000 for one team," he said. "You couldn't really fund your full academy for one year. The money is great, trust me. Maybe you could put a lit turf field in, which would be awesome. The money is significant. I don't want anyone thinking, 'Aw that's peanuts to PA Classics.' It's not, it's just a matter of all the extra stuff that would come with it. I'm just not sure."

But for Klein, appearances matter, in particular the image of piggybacking on Pulisic's accomplishments.

"It comes back to we were part of Christian Pulisic, but I don't want the story to be: We feel we are owed money because of his success," he said. "It really is a tough dilemma. We're just really big on the character of the player. So for me, it's kind of hypocritical.

"We would be justified. Everyone else in the world does it, but it's just not our style and that's what I've tried to impress upon a kid like Christian, being humble. If we move forward with it, I don't think it changes how I approach things, but to me, it still has a tint of that [hypocrisy] and it could turn in that direction.

"That's not what we want for our club."

Isn't it nice to see someone who makes a decision based on character? Isn't it great that he gives Pulisic credit for his development into a world class player rather than take a piece of it for himself and PA Classics?

But equally, going forward, doesn't it seem time that if we are going to play in the global professional soccer market that we play in the system properly?

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He'd be in the Bahamas

This is another example of a post thats not helpful.



-you only think you know...

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Isn't it nice to see someone who makes a decision based on character? Isn't it great that he gives Pulisic credit for his development into a world class player rather than take a piece of it for himself and PA Classics?

But equally, going forward, doesn't it seem time that if we are going to play in the global professional soccer market that we play in the system properly?

Your first statement is rubbish, your second statement is spot on!



-you only think you know.

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Another guy who just doesn't get it...

How awesome would it be for you all to not have to pay club fees...or have very reduced club fees. There are always going to be fees, always operating costs. But imagine if you didn't have to pay $3500, but $350?


"Not the American Way" - so sad that we are so arrogant in our thoughts like this when we didn't qualify for the World Cup.

That requires the players committing to stay with the club that is subsidizing their development.

Is that legal here? Dont think so. Players have the right to go where ever they want and until that changes, clubs will not invest in them. MLS da academies are required to do it to be in MLS.

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Your first statement is rubbish, your second statement is spot on!



-you only think you know.

And what makes it rubbish? Your personal opinion? Is that like some official decree or are you just another "I'm never wrong" soccer expert?

Why discredit the man's acknowledgement that seeking legal reparations is simply not their style? Why discredit his acceptance that they played a role but the Pusilic should enjoy the well deserved accolades for what he has accomplished?

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He didn't spend much time there so no it doesn't deserve much credit. If DA were doing a bang up job at development we'd have more players like him. He's a winning genetic power ball ticket, worked his tail off, had opportunities 99.99% of DA players won't ever have, and had parents who knew what they were doing.

Typical response. He spent three critical development years there. Besides the payments are pro rated. How about Yedlin spent a lot of time at Crossfire?

PS. What exactly is the genetic power ball ticket for soccer. It’s a skill based business. Skill, love and desire are more important than being a genetic freak

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Why? If they start to participate in that system they have to stop collecting the development money up front and that is not the american way. You pick one way of compensation for developing players or the other. you dont get both.

Who says clubs cannot charge fees to parents and also collect solidarity payments? Ultimately, you want clubs to replace parent payments with solidarity fees and end the pay-to-play madness. This would put the onus on the clubs to truly develop players....and those that failed in development would cease to exist. Let the global soccer market decide how well the clubs are doing in developing talent ---isn't THAT the American way???

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And what makes it rubbish? Your personal opinion? Is that like some official decree or are you just another "I'm never wrong" soccer expert?

Why discredit the man's acknowledgement that seeking legal reparations is simply not their style? Why discredit his acceptance that they played a role but the Pusilic should enjoy the well deserved accolades for what he has accomplished?

It's rubbish b/c it's silly to think he would take the money and put it in his pocket (as you inferred here). Put the money into the club and lets the next group of youth benefit from it.

I am not soccer expert, I am just trying to educate.


-you only think you know...

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If clubs could make big fat SPs by developing talent they most certainly would.

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Who says clubs cannot charge fees to parents and also collect solidarity payments? Ultimately, you want clubs to replace parent payments with solidarity fees and end the pay-to-play madness. This would put the onus on the clubs to truly develop players....and those that failed in development would cease to exist. Let the global soccer market decide how well the clubs are doing in developing talent ---isn't THAT the American way???

WOW! Going to copy/paste this and make bumper stickers!

Spot. On!


Are we opening our eyes yet??



-you only think you know...

[Unregistered]

Who says clubs cannot charge fees to parents and also collect solidarity payments? Ultimately, you want clubs to replace parent payments with solidarity fees and end the pay-to-play madness. This would put the onus on the clubs to truly develop players....and those that failed in development would cease to exist. Let the global soccer market decide how well the clubs are doing in developing talent ---isn't THAT the American way???

Well, if it was the American way, then.....

why do we subsidize farmers, such as soy farmers?
why do we subsidize the American dairy industry?
why do we subsidize the American steel industry?

Doesn't it seem the American way is to do what those in charge think serves Americans or perhaps their personal self-interests best? Would that be what US Soccer is doing now?

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Well articulated....

Who says clubs cannot charge fees to parents and also collect solidarity payments? Ultimately, you want clubs to replace parent payments with solidarity fees and end the pay-to-play madness. This would put the onus on the clubs to truly develop players....and those that failed in development would cease to exist. Let the global soccer market decide how well the clubs are doing in developing talent ---isn't THAT the American way???

[Unregistered]

Who says clubs cannot charge fees to parents and also collect solidarity payments? Ultimately, you want clubs to replace parent payments with solidarity fees and end the pay-to-play madness. This would put the onus on the clubs to truly develop players....and those that failed in development would cease to exist. Let the global soccer market decide how well the clubs are doing in developing talent ---isn't THAT the American way???

In the rest of the world, players have to commit to a club to get in the club's development system. Not permitted here.