[ad_1]
Major League Soccer announced Sunday that Dell Loy Hansen intends to sell Real Salt Lake FC, Utah Royals FC of the National Women’s Soccer League and Real Monarchs of the United Soccer League Championship.
Hansen has been under pressure since a report from The Athletic detailed his repeated use of racist language towards and in front of team employees.
That report came on the heels of Hansen’s reaction to the MLS player-led strike last Wednesday in protest of racial injustice. The protest led to the postponement of five games, including last Wednesday’s match between RSL and LAFC scheduled for the Rio Tinto Stadium.
– Stream FC daily on ESPN +
– Insider Notebook: Real Madrid stars surprised by Messi’s exit talk
“Major League Soccer has been informed that Real Salt Lake investor-operator Dell Loy Hansen has decided that it will initiate a process to sell Utah Soccer Holdings, the entity that owns Real Salt Lake (MLS), Utah Royals FC (NWSL) and Real Monarchs (USL), “MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement.
“MLS will work with Mr. Hansen to support the company’s sales efforts and will work closely with the club’s executive staff to support the team’s operations during the transition period.
“I want to acknowledge the significant efforts of Dell Loy Hansen to develop the sport of soccer in the state of Utah and for his commitment to Major League Soccer.”
During an interview Thursday on a Hansen-owned radio station, KXRK, Hansen said the protest was “like someone stabbed you and you’re trying to find a way to get the knife out and move on. That’s what it feels like.” . how. The lack of respect runs deep for me personally. “
In a subsequent interview with ESPN700, which Hansen also owns, the RSL owner withdrew some of his comments and apologized to Garber.
However, the Athletic report generated calls from the MLS and the NWSL that Hansen should be forced to sell the teams.
MAIN FOOTBALL NEWS
• Messi misses Barça’s COVID-19 test
• Rooney: FA ‘made a mess’ of Maguire
• Spurs sign Doherty for four years
• Sources: Utd because Van de Beek from Ajax
• McKennie completes loan from Juventus
Both the MLS and the NWSL announced Thursday that they would conduct investigations into Hansen’s behavior.
The MLS could have forced Hansen to sell the team, but it was unclear if a similar mechanism existed within the NWSL.
Section 14, Part D states that the league’s board of governors can rescind an owner’s participation in a team if 75% of the owners vote in favor. They would have to find that “the team operator or any owner has not acted in the best interest of the league.” If that 75% threshold is reached, an owner would have six months to sell the equipment. If those six months go by without a sale, the league could sell the team to a buyer approved by the board of governors “at a price and on terms the commissioner deems reasonable and appropriate.”
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Larry H. Miller Sports Group, owners of the NBA’s Utah Jazz, are interested in buying the team.
Ryan Smith, co-founder and CEO of Qualtrics, tweeted that he has an interest in buying the franchise and said, “I’m in … they got my number.”
Featured
- How MLS Players Came To The Boycott, Their Reaction To Hansen’s Muffled Comments, And How They Will Move Forward
Toronto FC forward Jozy Altidore has also tweeted that he is part of a group interested in buying the team.
Hansen acquired full control of RSL in January 2013, replacing founder Dave Checketts. He previously held a minority stake in the club as of October 2009, serving as vice president and alternate governor of the organization.
The purchase sparked the exodus of longtime RSL staff members, some volunteers, others forced, with manager Jason Kreis, general manager Garth Lagerwey and president Bill Manning among those who left over the next few months.
In 2019, Hansen took the step of firing then-coach Mike Petke when it emerged that Petke had directed homophobic insults at umpires after a League Cup game against UANL Tigres on July 24.
Source: espn.co.uk
[ad_2]
