NASL

  • Soccer Saturday

    Nipun Chopra talks Indy Eleven on ‘Soccer Saturday’

    Greg Rakestraw, host of 107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan’s “Soccer Saturday,” interviewed Soc Takes staff writer Nipun Chopra on the latest episode to delve into the Indy Eleven’s eerily quiet offseason and the inner workings of SocTakes.com. The segment was pre-recorded Friday afternoon before airing Saturday, thus Nipun’s Friday...
  • Eamon Zayed - Indy Eleven - Lucas Oil Stadium

    Indy Eleven to join USL, likely to play at Lucas Oil Stadium

    INDIANAPOLIS — Multiple sources inform Soc Takes that Indy Eleven will play in the United Soccer League (USL) during the 2018 season. The decision was finalized this morning (Jan. 5) and is expected to be announced late next week by USL, along with the USL schedule for the 2018...
  • USL franchise agreement

    USL’s divisional sanctioning remains unclear

    While the NASL lawsuit appeal rolls on, US Soccer finds itself in a situation where, for a second year running, it starts the calendar year without a sanctioned second division. Unlike the NASL, USL has continued to make expansion announcements and USL teams have diligently continued to rebuild their...
  • Soccerwarz

    Holiday gift idea for soccer fans on your list: ‘Soccerwarz’

    The holidays are here, so now’s the perfect time to grab a gift for that soccer supporter friend or family member of yours. Over the course of the next few days, we’ll be featuring some books authored by our very own contributors here at Soc Takes. “Soccerwarz” by Kartik...
  • The Regista: An interview with Miami FC’s Richie Ryan

    “If I get a chance to get close to (Barcelona midfielder, Sergio) Busquets, I’m going to give him a big kiss,” Richie Ryan told me perched somewhere in Madrid. Ryan is currently in Madrid to watch Saturday’s El Clasico, an experience he describes as “one I’ve always dreamed of.”...
  • NASL antitrust

    NASL retains IP unless buyout clause is paid

    USL v NASL Among the prevailing perceptions about the NASL and USL is that the latter has an ironclad franchise agreement that retains intellectual property, trademarks, and logos of any teams that depart the league. We previously outlined several key provisions of the standard USL franchise agreement. On the...
  • NASL interim commissioner Rishi Sehgal

    Rishi Sehgal discusses pro/rel, NPSL

    “How do you manage to tweet all day?” Rishi Sehgal, interim commissioner of the NASL, teased. Given the trouble the NASL finds itself in, it was a relief to find Sehgal in a jovial mood as we caught up with him via a phone call. Sehgal had just returned...
  • Penn FC

    Soc Takes Pod Ep. 35: Division II finals, Preki to Cal, Penn FC

    The panel rambles on about the NASL and USL finals, Preki’s new coaching gig at Cal United FC and the Harrisburg City Islanders’ rebrand to Penn FC. Eventually, the conversation devolves into nuggets like this one regarding a sideline red card: “It was just a classic dick move that...
  • sunil gulati

    Rumor: Sunil Gulati considering not running for USSF president

    Sunil Gulati is considering not running for the office of U.S. Soccer president in February, according to a source close to the situation. Soc Takes could not independently corroborate the information. The Allahabad-born Gulati has served as president of U.S. Soccer since 2006 and currently also serves on the FIFA...
  • NASL antitrust

    USSF attempted to prevent NASL from future antitrust litigation

    As Soc Takes revealed on Twitter last week, the NASL and USSF were in discussions to facilitate a continuation of the league at the D2 level. This story was independently confirmed by former Empire of Soccer editor-in-chief Dave Martinez and Jeff Rueter. Since then, reports from Michael Lewis of Front Row...
  • Preki

    Preki expected to be head coach of Cal United FC

    Soc Takes has learned that Predrag Radosavljević (Preki) is poised to take over as the first head coach of Cal United FC. The nascent club, at present poised to play in the NASL in 2018, was initially expected to begin the season with Eric Wynalda at the helm. Recently, Wynalda...
  • NASL cancels season

    NASL releases statement following denial of preliminary injunction

    The U.S. Soccer Federation’s decision to strip the NASL of its Division II status was upheld, the league learned Saturday. U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York judge Margo Brodie made the ruling after weighing arguments presented by both sides during hearings, ultimately determining that “while...