The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many problems for professional sports as leagues stopped play for months in 2020. Some were forced to play within bubbles and revenue decreased as games and attendance became limited. Possibly the biggest issue has been discussions over the leagues’ collective bargaining agreements.
Due to the loss of revenue because of limited fans and games, league owners have been looking to decrease spending through player concessions. While Major League Soccer isn’t asking players to accept any pay cuts in 2021, it is asking for a two-year extension of the current CBA.
This could be the third time in six years that there have been contentious negotiations between MLS and the MLS Players Association.