Major League Soccer president Don Garber fired back Wednesday at critical comments by US national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann about the league and its impact on players.
Klinsmann addressed the decisions by US standouts Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley to return from Europe to play in the North American league this week by saying they would have to prove the switch has not diminished their skills.
Garber called those remarks “incredibly damaging” to MLS.
“I’m demanding that he refrain from making comments that are critical of our players and damaging to our league,” Garber said.
“Jurgen’s comments are very detrimental to the league. They are detrimental to the sport of soccer in America. Not only are they detrimental, they are wrong.”
Klinsmann noted that Bradley has returned to play for a Toronto club that will miss the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season.
“Making that decision to go from Roma, a Champions League team, to now Toronto, a team that it seems like they’re not even qualifying for the playoffs, it’s a huge disappointment,” Klinsmann said.
“You adjust yourself to whatever environment you are in, so he had to adjust to the environment he’s with in Toronto, instead of maybe an environment that plays Champions League football. It’s down to him and his environment to see what level he is capable to play.”
Klinsmann also touched on Clint Dempsey’s move from the English Premier League to the MLS Seattle Sounders.
“I made it clear with Clint’s move back and his move back that it’s going to very difficult for them to keep the same level that they experienced at the places where they were. It’s just being honest,” Klinsmann said.
“Now making the step back, I totally get it. It’s a huge financial offer, it is also connected to many other elements, and this league is getting better and stronger every year. Which we are all very proud about. And I want everybody to grow in this environment.
“But reality also is for both players making that step means that you are not in the same competitive environment as you were before. And so it’s not easy for Michael, and it’s not going to be easy in the future.”
Garber also second-guessed Klinsmann’s decision not to include Landon Donovan, a standout for the MLS Los Angeles Galaxy, on the US World Cup roster. The all-time US scoring leader played his final international match for the American side last Friday.
“I believe Landon should have been in Brazil,” Garber said. “His performance dictated it.
“His treatment was inexcusable. I have concerns that (Klinsmann’s) criticism, particularly of Michael, is following that pattern.”
Garber hopes to attract top US talent to the league, which launched in 1996 and will add teams in New York and Orlando next year to reach 21 active clubs.
“Sending a message to any player and obviously to US players that signing to Major League Soccer is not going to be good to their career or good to their form is detrimental to Major League Soccer,” Garber said.
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7pm: Flood Zone
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Dunki
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if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
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Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
