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'Beckham Rule' made to be broken?

News Type: Opinion — Seeded on Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:38 PM EST
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David Beckham is now so famous that he even has a Major League Soccer rule named after him ... the 'Beckham Rule', also known as the Designated Player Rule.

On Saturday in Dallas during his annual league address, MLS commissioner Don Garber announced terms of an agreement, whereby each MLS team will be allowed to acquire one designated player who can be paid as much as the team is willing to afford but with only $400,000 counting against the team's $2 million salary cap.

Garber stated: "The designated player rule provides clubs an exciting mechanism to add tremendous value to their rosters."

He also added: "Our fans have stated they would like to see more world-class stars in MLS, and the designated player rule allows us to sign more elite talent from throughout the world."

This is a huge breakthrough for the league and for soccer in the United States but what does it really mean?

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Michael Sautter

This is a good look at the Beckham Rule (Designated Player Rule).

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  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:45 PM EST
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Erik Sampsell

It means that MLS teams can finally try to entice not only Beckham but other superstars to MLS.

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  • 1 vote
Reply#2 - Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:50 PM EST
{"commentId":383528,"authorDomain":"spudsstuff"}
Spuds Stuff

So how much will a team be prepared to offer Beckham? Will the superstars come to play in the MLS or will it attract only the "also rans"?

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  • 2 votes
Reply#3 - Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:08 PM EST
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