Miami (AFP) – Relevent Sports, the marketing company with growing influence in global soccer, has settled its antitrust legal case with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), increasing the chances of foreign league games being held in the USA. The company has been battling soccer authorities for several years for the right to bring foreign competitions, such as Spain’s La Liga, to the US market.
A filing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on Thursday noted: “Plaintiff Relevent Sports, LLC voluntarily dismisses the above-captioned matter, with prejudice, as to Defendant United States Soccer Federation, Inc.” Relevent CEO Danny Sillman said in a statement: “We appreciate U.S. Soccer’s collaboration in reaching this settlement. Ultimately, we all share the same goal: growing the sport throughout America. We’re excited to continue supporting clubs from Europe and around the world to expand the sport’s reach and impact across the U.S.”
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A spokesperson for US Soccer said: “We are pleased to put this matter behind us as we remain focused on growing the game and harnessing the momentum of U.S. Soccer ahead of next year’s World Cup.” Relevent reached a settlement last April with global governing body FIFA, which were originally co-defendants in the case.
The New York-based company, which is controlled by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, had been trying to bring foreign league games, including those from Spain’s La Liga, to US soil. FIFA’s rules had barred domestic leagues from playing competitive games outside of their own national borders, but after the settling of the case, FIFA said it was setting up a ‘working group’ to examine its policy. In October, FIFA stated that the group would issue its recommendations in the “coming months.”
Relevent recently won the media and sponsorship rights to UEFA’s premier product – the Champions League and their other men’s club competitions. The company has a long-term deal to represent Spain’s La Liga in North America and had tried to bring a Barcelona league game to Miami. Relevent also has a marketing deal with the English Football League (EFL) and with the Premier League for their ‘Summer Series’ games.
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