The Biden administration has taken a stance in favor of a promoter who filed an antitrust lawsuit against FIFA and the U.S. Soccer Federation over a policy prohibiting hosting league matches from other countries. The administration has urged the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the case to proceed to trial.
In a recent brief filed by Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar, the government argued against the Supreme Court reviewing the case and supported a 2023 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision to stand. The government highlighted that the USSF was not acting independently but was part of a membership association that adopted a policy binding its members.
The dispute arose when Relevent Sports, under the control of Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, announced plans to host a Spanish league match between Barcelona and Girona in Miami Gardens, Florida. However, FIFA's policy at the time emphasized that official league matches must be played within the territory of the respective member association, leading to Barcelona withdrawing from the proposed match in Florida.
Relevent also faced a similar denial from the USSF in 2019 when seeking approval for a league match between two teams from Ecuador. Subsequently, Relevent filed a lawsuit alleging violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act and tortious interference.
After initial dismissal of the antitrust claim by U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni in July 2021, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the claim in March 2023. The case has seen further legal maneuvers, with FIFA and the USSF filing motions to dismiss based on jurisdictional and settlement agreement grounds.
As the legal battle continues, FIFA, the USSF, and Relevent's lawyer have not provided immediate comments on the latest developments. The case remains under scrutiny, with implications for the future of hosting international league matches in the United States.
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