Allocation (MLS)
Encyclopedia
In Major League Soccer
, an allocation represents an amount of money teams can use to sign players and/or allocate to their salaries to get under the salary cap
. Allocations are given to teams that have missed the playoffs the previous seasons, given to expansion teams, or awarded as compensation for players lost. This can be when a player is sold to a foreign club (Brian McBride
), left on a free transfer (Clint Mathis
), or retired (Cobi Jones
). Allocations can be split and/or traded.
Whether the allocation is given, and its size is determined by MLS; the details are not disclosed to the general public. Citing this, some in the MLS community have accused the league of favoring major market teams, particularly the Los Angeles Galaxy
, in the use of allocations.
Twice in league history, an allocation received for a lost player was used on same player upon his return to the league: by the Chicago Fire on Ante Razov
and by the New England Revolution
on Daniel Hernandez.
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, an allocation represents an amount of money teams can use to sign players and/or allocate to their salaries to get under the salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
. Allocations are given to teams that have missed the playoffs the previous seasons, given to expansion teams, or awarded as compensation for players lost. This can be when a player is sold to a foreign club (Brian McBride
Brian McBride
Brian Robert McBride is a retired American soccer player who finished his career for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer , but spent the majority of his time in MLS playing for the Columbus Crew. For much of his career he played in Europe, notably for Fulham in the English Premier League...
), left on a free transfer (Clint Mathis
Clint Mathis
Clint Mathis is a retired American soccer player.-Youth and college:Mathis played club soccer at a young age for Rockdale Youth Soccer Association, and then for AFC Lightning, a Georgia powerhouse producing players such as current U.S. international Ricardo Clark, in Fayetteville...
), or retired (Cobi Jones
Cobi Jones
Cobi N'Gai Jones is a retired American soccer player who formerly served as assistant coach with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer , with whom he had been involved as a player and coach since the team's inaugural season in 1996...
). Allocations can be split and/or traded.
Whether the allocation is given, and its size is determined by MLS; the details are not disclosed to the general public. Citing this, some in the MLS community have accused the league of favoring major market teams, particularly the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
, in the use of allocations.
Twice in league history, an allocation received for a lost player was used on same player upon his return to the league: by the Chicago Fire on Ante Razov
Ante Razov
Ante Razov is a retired American soccer player of Croatian descent who last played for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-Club:...
and by the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
on Daniel Hernandez.