MLS: U.S. Court of Appeals rejects appeal in MLS players’ suit

The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has rejected the appeal by the MLS players in their lawsuit against Major League Soccer. The players sued MLS, nine MLS operator/investors and U.S. Soccer, alleging violations of Sherman Act sections 1 and 2 and Clayton Act section 7. U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. granted summary judgment for defendants on the section 1 and Clayton Act counts. After a 12-week trial on the section 2 count, a jury returned a special verdict, leading to judgment in favor of defendants. The Court of Appeals affirmed the decision in the lower court in a 10,000-word opinion.