Q&A with NASL interim commissioner Rishi Sehgal

Photo credit: NPSL

As revealed by Wes “Mantooth” Burdine of FiftyFive.One, the USSF decided to reject NASL’s application for Division II sanctioning last year. Since that time, lawsuits, injunctions and rejections have been the story of the North American Soccer League (NASL). As teams continued to exit the league and other leagues looked to occupy the niche, the future of the NASL remained far from certain. And by February, the league was down to four teams and had decided to forego the 2018 season.

Since then, the league has largely remained in the public eye due to the bluster of New York Cosmos owner Rocco Commisso. On Monday morning, we learned that Commisso had decided to attempt a novel solution to the standoff between the USSF and NASL. What does all of this mean for the purportedly moribund NASL? Soc Takes spoke to NASL interim commissioner Rishi Sehgal to find out.

Nipun Chopra: Hi Rishi, why are you doing a round of interviews currently?

Rishi Sehgal: People have been wondering what the plans were for the NASL going forward. We’ve been making some moves and having conversations behind-the-scenes, and speaking to lots of folks. This (the bid) is where we’ve reached, and we want to let fans know where we are. I was down in Chattanooga for the summit where we had productive discussions with a lot of clubs. The goal for everyone there was to find ways to move forward and ultimately, for us, this is how we want to do it. It started with a bold move from (New York Cosmos owner) Rocco Commisso making an overture to (USSF president) Carlos Cordeiro to make progress for all of soccer moving forward.

People wanted to know what we’ve been doing, and it’s time to tell them that we want to find a way back onto the pitch.

NC: What is NASL’s role in all of this?

RS: Well, the end game is to help the NASL and to bring the NASL back to the pitch in 2019. So the investment of $250 million of his own money, and then lead a fundraising effort to raise another $250 million which will be used to support the NASL.

NC: Before we get into the details, are you still an employee of the NASL?

RS: I am still with the NASL.

NC: And what is your role within the organization?

RS: I manage the affairs of the league on a day-to-day basis.

NC: And are there other NASL employees?

RS: While I cannot get into specifics, there are other employees, but currently this is a very small operation. Part of what has happened due to U.S. Soccer’s decisions is that we’ve had to make some difficult decisions regarding people’s jobs. It’s something we predicted and it’s come true.

(Note: Soc Takes understands there are less than five employees currently associated with the NASL.)

NC: Which other owners will be involved with Rocco’s plan?

RS: It’s going to involve all of our owners in different capacities. Obviously, you are aware that the remaining clubs in the league are Miami FC, Jacksonville Armada, New York Cosmos and Puerto Rico FC. It’s going to involve them all in different capacities, but we cannot go into specific details about their involvement right now.

NC: What is the status of Puerto Rico FC?

RS: In some sense, it’s the same status as all of our clubs. But the difference is, the NPSL does not operate in Puerto Rico, and the island of Puerto Rico is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Maria, but they’re looking to get back on the pitch.

NC: So if NASL were to play in 2019, PRFC would be a part of that?

RS: That’s our plan.

Photo credit: NASL

NC: Will the new NASL involve the same six teams that signed LOIs last year?

RS: It could. It could also involve others. We are in discussions with a number of markets and teams to see what makes sense in the first phase of this. But, all the teams we spoke to previously — we spoke to them for a reason and were comfortable moving forward with them– but we’ll see what works for everyone going forward.

NC: How are you approaching these conversations, Rishi? I’m sure it was a tough sell to convince teams to join the NASL for the last 24 months, is it significantly harder now?

RS: Part of that is going to depend on how we work this out with U.S. Soccer. The approach is mired in the details, and that only happens if we can find a way back onto the pitch via USSF. Right now our focus is on getting a meeting with U.S. Soccer. But for whatever reason, there has been some resistance from their end.

*****Update 5/3/18 – Soc Takes was contacted by US Soccer’s Chief Communication Officer, Neil Buethe, who responded to Sehgal’s answer with the following statement – 

“The last line is not accurate. In our response letters from Carlos Cordeiro it has been stated very clearly that we are willing to meet with them. The ball is in their court.”

NC: About the $250 million, what is the significance of that amount? Why $25 million a year and not $10 million or $50 million?

RS: The number is based on what Rocco has identified as what he can afford to invest at this point. Rocco’s means are well-publicized now, but it’s more about the amount of capital he thinks will be necessary to drive the business forward. You wrote a great piece on the problems of lower-division soccer and the amount being invested by Rocco could yet change some of that.

Investing in a lot of infrastructure that will make soccer at the lower divisions sustainable. And to bring up promotion-relegation, he’s been very clear about that in the letters. Pro-rel would be a positive game changer for everyone in American soccer including MLS.

NC: Outside of benefiting lower-division owners, how would promotion-relegation benefit U.S. Soccer as a whole?

RS: It would benefit soccer tremendously. We have these meaningless divisions in absence of promotion-relegation. Pro-rel would allow communities all across this country to be fully engaged. Right now, people are embracing some communities via soccer. Look at Atlanta United — their fans are engaged in their communities via Atlanta United. Same with Kansas City. People in Chattanooga, Detroit and Indianapolis are the same.

The world changes very quickly. Twitter, the iPhone, etc., didn’t exist until fairly recently. This country will quickly embrace and adapt to promotion-relegation. And, by the way, they already have. Look at the vast majority of U.S. Soccer fans — they’re watching the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Liga MX — although the situation there is changing. People here already enjoy promotion-relegation and they are sick of their teams tanking.

NC: Are you able to explain what other infrastructural changes, other than pro-rel, you were referring to?

RS: Money could be invested in facilities, which is a big area of concern in lower-division soccer. You wrote an article that identifies stadium costs as a significant area of expenditure. With modern technology and modern construction techniques, there are ways to construct facilities at a lower cost and get them running.

NC: Like modular stadiums?

RS: Right. We’re starting to see that at our level, you just need a credible stadium where true fans can go support their team and grow the club organically. The infrastructure would vary from market to market.

NC: Outside of stadiums, are you thinking about development academies?

RS: One of the things — and you publicized this about the NASL in the past (Note: see page 29 of this study) — the ages of players in our league were on the higher end of any league in the world. While we value the experience of veterans tremendously, we also want to invest in younger players and get those younger players in competitive environments to help develop them. We don’t want to hold them here forever. We can showcase them and let them move onto the next part of their careers.

NC: You’re on Twitter, and you know how conversations can go on Twitter. But, the major pushback regarding Rocco’s letters is that this is all a publicity stunt. Is it a publicity stunt? Or is there a real and actionable 250 million behind all of this?

RS: Absolutely there is real money at play. This is not a publicity stunt. If it were a publicity stunt, it would be a very expensive publicity stunt. We didn’t file lawsuits because we were trying to create publicity; we filed them because we were treated unfairly.

I read the Twitter (laughs), and I see the nonsense out there and much of it is a waste. A lot of people calling this or MP Silva’s previous offer a publicity stunt — that’s nonsense. I understand that sometimes people have problems with the way certain people speak. I get that. But pay attention to the message.

What we’re saying here is right — the sport in this country needs to change. Nobody is trying to take away the great things MLS has done. I saw something recently contrasting Rocco’s approach to (Real Salt Lake owner) Dell Loy Hansen. Dell Loy Hansen has done a fantastic job with his investment in RSL and he’s doing it for the right reasons. What we’re trying to do is give opportunities for more people to do that.

The issue is, everyone seems to want new ideas. Everyone sees that changes are needed. But everyone is simultaneously resistant to any new ideas. We have to stop that nonsense. Nobody here owns soccer. You have to allow entrepreneurship in soccer. There’s no harm in allowing Rocco to invest into soccer and soccer communities in this country.

So, why not let it happen?

NC: What’s the next step?

RS: We want to have a meeting, and we were hoping that the meeting had already taken place.

NC: Will the goal for NASL still be to play as a Division II league?

RS: Yes. As long as the current professional standards exist, we wish to operate as a Division II league. But the lawsuits will continue and we’ll see where we go from there.

NC: We started the conversation with you talking about the Chattanooga summit. So, how do the likes of USASA, NISA, etc., fit into this equation?

RS: Ultimately, we’d like to see a lot more linkage and cooperation between the leagues. I know it can be challenging, but from what I learned in Chattanooga, there are parties that are talking the same but not doing things the same way. We’ve got to find coordination so that these parts can fit together in a better way. It will involve the clubs in USASA and NPSL clubs for some much needed cross-pollination.

NC: Have you heard from U.S. Soccer?

RS: Not since the letters came out. There is a timeline for us. If we’re going to be on the field in 2019, this needs to happen soon.

NC: Do you think it is fair for NASL to expect U.S. Soccer to come to the table for “peace talks” when the league and its parties have filed multiple lawsuits against the federation?

RS: It was unfair for U.S. Soccer to do what it did to NASL. So, let’s come to the table, talk about these things and move forward. But (if we’re talking about) fairness, they’re the ones that breached that.

NC: Why should the American soccer community rally behind NASL and Rocco Commisso?

RS: They should rally behind everyone trying to invest money and resources into growing soccer and developing the sport. Look past the politics and vitriol — look at the contributions we’ve made. Almost 1,000 different players played in the NASL (including at least 50 current players). Look at the opportunities provided to coaches and referees. Guys like Gio Savarese, Martin Rennie, Ted Unkel and Robert Sibiga, they cut their teeth in the NASL.

NC: Any final message you’d like Soc Takes readers to know about?

RS: It’s going to suck not watching the U.S. in the World Cup this summer.

Follow Nipun on Twitter: @NipunChopra7.

Support Soc Takes on Patreon for access to exclusive content and supporter benefits. Click here to become a patron today.