Report: MLS owners threaten lockout amid return-to-play negotiations

The MLS Players Association approved a return-to-play plan Friday night and it was sent to owners on Sunday, but apparently, things may be worse than they originally were to begin with.

The plan would have players flying to Orlando, Fla., on June 24 for a two-week training period. Following group training, teams would compete in a three-game group stage followed by the knockout round. Teams that fail to advance to the knockout stage would then return home and the maximum amount of time spent in Orlando would be six weeks.

Major League Soccer has reportedly sent a counter-offer to the MLSPA and they want a decision by Tuesday or they will sanction a lockout, according to NBC Sports' Joe Prince-Wright.

The MLSPA voted in favor of economic concessions for the 2020 season, modifications to the CBA and agreement to play in a tournament in Orlando. On top of that, they agreed to take pay cuts amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Jeff Carlisle of ESPN, MLS says they've already given the Players Association their best offer and are hesitant to budge. Negotiations have been ongoing for weeks and if the league truly is threatening a lockout, then we may see an answer very soon.

Germany's Bundesliga returned to action a few weeks ago, and it's successful restart bodes well for soccer leagues across the world. The English Premier League, La Liga and Italy's Serie A will all return next month and teams have begun training to ramp up for the season to resume. The National Women's Soccer League also approved a plan for a 25-game tournament to be played in Utah beginning in June.

If MLS and the Players Association can come to an agreement, the league could be the first men's sport in the United States to return to action.