Is the previously announced signing of Casemiro by MLS club Inter Miami in jeopardy once again? In any case, the U.S. league announced on Wednesday evening that it had launched an investigation into Lionel Messi’s club.
The Florida-based team had already announced the transfer: Casemiro is set to bolster the reigning MLS champions and help the club defend its title. But later on Wednesday, the league suddenly issued a statement: It is investigating Inter on suspicion of “tampering” in connection with the transfer, which in this context means something like “unauthorized interference,” according to a league statement.
“The league will therefore gather all relevant information and will not comment further on the matter until the investigation into the events is complete,” MLS added.
The LA Galaxy held “Discovery Rights”
Background: In the league—similar to other North American sports leagues—players are effectively under contract with MLS itself, even though the clubs, as league franchises, have extensive authority of their own when it comes to transfer and contract negotiations. However, this is subject to the league’s rules.
According to these rules, every MLS club may claim “Discovery Rights” for up to five players, granting the respective team priority in contract negotiations. The team that was the first to add the player in question to its list has the right of first refusal to sign the player if contract negotiations are successful. The contents of these lists are confidential—and may be changed at any time. Only the league itself has access to them.
In this specific case, the Los Angeles Galaxy apparently held the right of first refusal for talks with Casemiro, although this right can be purchased through negotiations with another club—which had not happened initially. According to an ESPN report, the California-based team therefore initially filed a complaint with MLS alleging “tampering.”
“While Inter Miami CF and the LA Galaxy have now reached a settlement regarding the ‘discovery rights’ to sign Casemiro, the terms of the agreement will not be disclosed until the investigation into ‘tampering’ is complete,” the MLS stated.
Inter Has Been in Conflict with MLS Rules on Several Occasions
There are likely other reasons why the league is clearly scrutinizing Inter Miami’s actions so closely: In recent years, there have been repeated conflicts—both minor and major—with the MLS and its rules. There have been multiple violations of the salary cap regulations. This was not only the case with Blaise Matuidi, for whom Miami reported a salary below the cap but paid the Frenchman several million U.S. dollars in additional compensation—without disclosing this to the league.
Last summer, Messi and his teammate Jordi Alba’s absence from the All-Star Game resulted in a one-game league suspension for each player. Both players had stayed home without reporting an injury, which is not permitted. Is an even harsher penalty now looming?