The board of directors for the U.S. soccer federation voted unanimously on Tuesday not to sanction the United Soccer League or the North American Soccer League in 2010. The vote to deny sanctioning was based on a recommendation from the Professional League Task Force, which determined that neither league would provide a sustainable operation during the upcoming season.
The USL and NASL are competing to establish a Division II level professional men's soccer league in the U.S. The USL had been the secondary professional league in the U.S. In August, the USL was sold by Nike to NuRock holdings. Teams in the USL were disappointed and the announcement of the sale to NuRock brought dissension among the teams. In November, a new secondary professional league was announced, taking the name North American Soccer League. The NASL was formed from teams that broke away from the USL and presently consists of 11 teams.
USSF president Sunil Gulati cited too many uncertainties for both organizations to exist as stand alone leagues and encouraged them develop a plan which would allow a single league to be approved on a provisional basis. The board has given each seven days to work out an interim solution.
NASL and USL have both released statements indicating that they will work together on a compromise.
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