MLS commissioner Douglas G. Logan today announced the reassignment of Miami Fusion midfielder Carlos Valderrama to the Tampa Bay Mutiny. Tampa Bay coach Tim Hankinson has indicated that he intends to start Valderrama for the Mutiny in its game against the MetroStars on Sunday, April 25 in a match that will be televised live on ESPN at 1 p.m. ET. “It has become clear in the past days that an irreconcilable impasse has been reached between the Miami Fusion and Carlos Valderrama with regard to his continued participation with that team,” Logan said. “At the same time, it has become apparent that there is no possibility of a trade materializing within any reasonable time-frame that would be satisfactory both to the Miami Fusion and to another MLS team. I have therefore today decided, under the powers vested in me as Commissioner of MLS, to reassign the services of Mr. Valderrama from the Miami Fusion to the Tampa Bay Mutiny effective immediately.” A three-time MLS All-Star and the league’s 1996 Honda Most Valuable Player, the 37-year-old Valderrama has one goal and two assists in four games with Miami in 1999. Since learning he was not in Miami coach Ivo Wortmann’s plans last week, Valderrama has not practiced with the team and did not play in the Fusion’s 2-1 shootout win over Dallas on April 15. Valderrama is generally regarded as Major League Soccer’s most internationally recognized and respected player. “I am taking this unusual action because I believe it to be in the best interest of the League to afford Carlos Valderrama the opportunity to entertain our fans by doing what he does best — play soccer,” Logan added. “Good sons always return home,” said Valderrama in a brief statement issued through Mutiny Community Relations Manager Orlando Conguta. Under MLS guidelines, the Mutiny had to make available a roster position for Valderrama by releasing one of its international players. Tampa Bay waived Costa Rican forward Alejandro Sequeira, who will not be available to participate any games this weekend.