Report: MLSPA approves return-to-play proposal to send to owners

Major League Soccer may be one step closer to returning to action amid the coronavirus pandemic. The MLS Players Association reportedly approved a return-to-play plan Friday night, according to Paul Tenorio and Sam Stejskal of The Athletic. 

While the plan was approved by the MLSPA, the owners still will need to approve the plan if the league has any hope of returning to the pitch in the coming months.

The plan, according to The Athletic, 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.

One major roadblock may inhibit the league from returning to the pitch, though. The MLSPA still is negotiating pay cuts with the league and modifications to the CBA that was ruled on in February. On top of that, all health and safety protocols must be approved before teams can return to action, which doesn't seem to be as problematic as pay negotiations.

The fate of the league is now in the owner's hands, and they can either approve the proposal or continue to negotiate with the MLSPA and offer a counterproposal. According to The Athletic, a league response is expected in the coming days.

Bundesliga's successful restart bodes well for soccer leagues across the country. 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 all goes well, MLS could be the first men's league in the United States to return to action, which would be terrific for a sport that hasn't drawn in many American fans over the years.