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A place for the future FIFA boss says MLS needs to make changes to succeedPosted: Tuesday February 18, 2003 3:45 PMNEW YORK (AP) -- FIFA president Sepp Blatter thinks Major League Soccer needs to emulate other top leagues around world. "They should have their own stadia to use year-round," he said during a conference call Tuesday. "They should play at least nine months or 10 months like the other big federations." Blatter said former U.S. Soccer Federation president Alan Rothenberg, who helped oversee the formation of MLS, believes the league is building a following. "Alan Rothenberg told me it took more years than expected to make the league work well, said Blatter, who spoke to Rothenberg on Monday. "For 2003, he expects even a better outcome. "He's convinced they found a place ... for the future." MLS started in 1996, two years after the United States hosted the World Cup. The league has been moderately successful, but has had trouble overcoming competition from other major sports. "There are practically 20 million players [in the United States]. Out of them, 8.5 million girls and women," Blatter said. "I invite the industry in the United States to look at that." Blatter also said the under-20 World Cup, scheduled to begin next month in the United Arab Emirates, could be postponed if military action is taken against Iraq. Blatter was in New York to receive the American-Global Award for Peace for his efforts in bringing together South Korea and Japan to host the World Cup finals last summer. It was the first time two countries co-hosted the event. The International Amateur Athletic Association gave the award to Blatter, who has been president of FIFA since 1998. Past recipients include Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, George Bush and Juan Antonio Samaranch. |
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