6+5 hit my inbox today, in the form of a Jack Bell interview with the president of La Liga, José Luis Astiazarán. Astiazarán discussed the potential impact of the rule on his league, clearly stating that for the La Liga, it's no big deal.
The interview, related to American soccer only by later questions revolving around Spanish investment in the U.S. and the prospects of American players in Spain, immediately got me thinking about how 6+5 might impact Major League Soccer. While the richest European leagues may scramble to rework their rosters to comply with the rule, our little American league is, and should continue to be, American enough that the impact would be minimal.
But is that really the case? Besides the obvious and immediate nature of the rule, something MLS is in no position to worry about, there might be a few extraneous and more long-reaching effects.
Current roster rules make it possible for MLS clubs to field more than five internationals, though because the league uses citizenship and residency status to determine a players provenance rather than their national team eligibility, there may some overlap that makes it difficult to properly assess the effect.
For example: Bakary Soumare is not an international player under MLS rules, but would be according to FIFA, as he is now capped by Mali and is therefore ineligible to play for the U.S.
6+5 is intended to restore a national identity to domestic leagues, something big clubs and big money has reduced significantly in recent times. For some, the effects could be large; England is the most obvious example, and the debate rages on there as to whether or not the rule is a positive step or an infringement on the right of clubs field the best possible team (and is therefore an impediment to quality).
Let's put aside the immediate impact of the rule on the field, because as I mentioned, it really doesn't apply to MLS (for now, although there are a few exceptions). Instead, I'm suggesting that 6+5 will ensure that MLS will remain primarily American despite any efforts by those in power to increase the number of internationals in a bid to improve league quality in a rapid manner.
The appeal of Major League Soccer, and the strategy it uses to increase its appeal, is a delicate balancing act. The league can choose the slow and steady path it is currently on, relying heavily on Americans, or it can attempt a quick jump by increasing foreign roster spots. The former could keep the league stagnate and leave it as it currently is, generally unable to attract soccer fans who turn their back on the league. The latter might improve quality and appeal to those fans, but it could jeopardize the league's ability to develop American talent on a broad scale.
While I'm not keen on the idea that Major League Soccer should, or has an obligation to, serve as some sort of National Team proving ground, I understand the need for it to be a place for Americans to play. American players will continue to leave the country to ply their trade in greater and greater numbers as time goes on, but there will also be those that have no other option than to play in the United States. MLS should absolutely be a place for the best Americans to get on the field, and in numbers that ensure it remains American at its core.
Luckily enough, that's exactly what 6+5 is intended to do.
I'm tempted to expound on this further, and I definitely want to make the point that I'm not arguing for 6+5. It's very possibly that the rule will never go beyond the discussion phase, therefore making my point a moot one. But if it does, and if some are worried that MLS could move too far away from the American player, then the rule will keep it from going too far.
