Bursting MLS's Bubble
MLS is definitely back. Two days before the start of the #MLSisBack tournament, FC Dallas was withdrawn after 10 positive Covid-19 results. One day after the tournament began, Nashville SC was withdrawn from the tournament due to 9 positive Covid-19 cases, as first reported by The Athletic.
Entering this tournament, all 26 teams were guaranteed at least 3 group stage matches that would count toward their regular season point total. So, what happens when your club is withdrawn from the tournament? Do you just leave the tournament with zero points? Does MLS adjust and rule that the group stage matches don’t count toward the regular season at all to make things “fair”?
So far, FC Dallas and Nashville SC are the only teams to be affected by this issue. Withdrawing these 2 teams from the tournament and leaving them with zero points leaves them at a disadvantage once the “regular season” resumes. We could certainly see multiple teams from the East and West leave the tournament with 7-9 points. The withdrawn teams would already be back 2-3 wins and set further from the MLS playoffs.
The winner of this tournament is guaranteed upwards of $1 million in prize money and a guaranteed spot in next year’s Concacaf Champions League tournament. For every team in this tournament, the group stage points are heavily incentivized. Points in this group stage lands you 1 step closer to the playoffs. Taking away this incentive would put less emphasis on the group stage matches. Without this specific incentive, how interested and motivated are some players to even play in this tournament?
As of now we aren’t sure what the “regular season” is going to look like once the tournament ends, but I do know that it needs to be fair. MLS can’t let these withdrawn teams leave with zero points and have no chance to make up those matches with the other 3 teams in their groups. No, they won’t land the $1 million pot or the Champions League spot, but they will have the same opportunity as every other MLS team playing in the tournament. Regular season schedules for Dallas and Nashville will have to be adjusted, however that may look, but it is necessary.
In saying all of this, I am glad that player health was prioritized and I wish the Dallas and Nashville players a speedy recovery so they can return home to their families as soon as possible.
