A Federal Court jury in Boston unanimously found that Major League Soccer is not an illegal monopoly, as the lawyers for the soccer players had claimed in in a class-action lawsuit that was originally filed by a group of MLS players in 1997. The verdict resolves all but some minor claims in the case. The original suit challenged the league’s single-entity structure and claimed that the USSF had improperly designated MLS as the sole Division I league in 1996 and 1997. In April of this year, the Federal Court ruled that MLS’s single-entity structure was both legal and proper. Today’s verdict confirms the legality of the designation decision of the USSF, which was also a defendant in the case. The suit had been organized and funded completely by the NFL Players Association. “As we have consistently stated since this lawsuit was filed, MLS resources would have been better spent promoting soccer and paying our players,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “Rather than defending a lengthy and baseless case brought by the NFL Players Association and their attorneys.” “We are very pleased that the jury saw that the case was without merit and very pleased with the verdict,” said Michael A. Cardozo of Proskauer Rose, the New York attorney who represents MLS in the litigation.