Report: Trump ban scuppered DP deal with unnamed player
President Donald Trump's controversial travel ban has negatively influenced dealings between Major League Soccer and players of Islamic faith, with Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl reporting that a Designated Player-level signing was partly hindered by Trump's immigration policy.
One MLS executive reportedly told Wahl that their pursuit of a Muslim player was scuppered because the player "didn't feel safe in the United States right now" and while it wasn't the only reason for the deal failing to develop, it was certainly a factor.
While Wahl does not name which player or team was involved in this dealing, he did specify that the player was not from one of the seven Muslim-majority countries on the travel ban list, which are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
The executive order was eventually overruled by a federal court.
HEADLINES
- Latest transfer news and rumors: €130M bid expected for Vinicius
- UEFA delays final decision on planned Barca game in Miami
- NYC mayoral candidate Mamdani calls for cheaper World Cup tickets
- World Cup Run-Up: Messi's future, Pochettino's problems, and more
- Pulisic downplays rumors of rift with Pochettino: 'Things are good'