The legal battle between Relevent Sports and U.S. Soccer over competition barriers to the United States hosting foreign league soccer matches escalated on Monday. The soccer promotion company owned by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross filed a 43-page federal antitrust lawsuit against U.S. Soccer, alleging conspiracy in the manner in which it grants approval for matches played on U.S. soil.
The lawsuit, which was submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and obtained by SI.com, asserts that U.S. Soccer has unlawfully conspired with FIFA to boycott clubs and players that participate in matches in the U.