SOCCER / JULIE CART : The U.S. Might Not Win, but It Has an Agent

The surest signs that U.S. soccer is coming of age are the persistent rumblings of disputes between labor and management.

American professional soccer players have no union, little leverage and, until recently, no hint of solidarity. That has changed. Last week, the members of the U.S. national team (1-5-9) retained the services of player agent Leigh Steinberg to represent them collectively in their differences with the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Given their history of reluctance to press any advantage with the USSF, this move is equally stunning and much-awaited.

At issue is a broad spectrum of negotiable items, including housing, basic compensation and a bonus structure.

Even though many players have their own shoe and apparel contracts, they must abide by the USSF’s deal with Adidas that requires them to wear Adidas exclusively.

Despite this, many players wear their own brand of shoes at practices, with the identifying logo marked out. This practice, called spatting, is increasingly common among the national team.

The same exclusive regulation should apply to goalkeepers’ gloves, but one of the team’s goalkeepers is allowed to wear a different brand during games.

Steinberg said one of his goals is to expand the players’s marketing horizons.

“The sport has a golden opportunity to catch fire in America,” he said. “But the fundamental rights in this area have to be examined and ultimately codified in a way that will be in the interest of soccer.”

The players met many times before approaching Steinberg, but eventually agreed that the constant business discussions were detracting from their focus on soccer.

“We were at the point where we were meeting all the time and nothing was decided,” said Peter Vermes, a veteran of the 1990 World Cup.

“I feel a lot better about standing up and speaking out than I would if I let others take all the heat.”

Steinberg said he will meet soon with USSF President Alan Rothenberg.

“We’re confident everything can be worked out,” Steinberg said.

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Kasey Keller is getting the full range of experiences while playing for Millwall in the English First Division. His team played its last game of the season at home in The Den, an ancient stadium in south London. Even before the game was finished, the crowd rushed the field.

Keller, who is back home in Olympia, Wash., for the off-season, will be married on June 27. Keller, who was the backup goalkeeper for the 1990 World Cup team, was not recalled for the U.S. Cup, but was on hand last month to watch the national team play Bolivia.

Keller recounted a harrowing experience he had when Millwall played Bristol to end the season. There was still time left when thousands of fans invaded the field, and, apparently souvenir hunting, ripped up sections of the turf and tore down billboards.

Unfortunately for Keller, fans also swiped most of his clothes. As he ran for the dressing room, Keller said fans caught him and made off with his gloves and his shoes.

“Then they grabbed me by my arms and legs, suspending me,” Keller said. “They pulled off my shirt and shorts. I had on protective shorts underneath, and they tried to get those off.”

Keller eventually escaped. But his most frightening thought: “They weren’t even the opposing fans, they were ours.”

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After playing games in Orange County against Peru and Bolivia, and Sunday’s match against Brazil in New Haven, Conn., the United States clearly isn’t getting the benefit of the home advantage. Time and again the crowds support the opposition, leaving the United States the weak support of a few outnumbered fans.

They are used to it, according to goalkeeper Tony Meola.

“I’ve been asked about that,” he said. “My response is that this is America and we are a land of immigrants. Last year when we played Italy in Chicago, my dad sat in the stands and cheered for Italy.”

Meola’s father was born inItaly.

Soccer Notes

The U.S. national team’s busy summer schedule has begun. Coach Bora Milutinovic said he expects his team to play as many as 58 games this summer. From the U.S. Cup ‘93, the team will travel to Ecuador for the Copa America. From there they play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, their regional championships. The United States will play in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl, beginning July 10, in a group that includes Honduras, Panama and Jamaica. Mexico heads another group based in Mexico City. Grouped with Mexico are Canada, Martinique and Costa Rica. The championship game will be July 25 in Mexico City.

Budget problems within the U.S. Soccer Federation have put off the hiring of a goalkeeping coach for the national team. . . . Both the World Cup ’94 organizing committee and the Pasadena venue office are looking for volunteers. Contact the offices in Century City or Pasadena for more information.

The unheralded team from Greece has qualified for the World Cup finals, but to hear the coach, the qualification was no less than miraculous. Alketas Panagoulias, who has a residence in the United States, is asking all of Greece to aid in the team’s preparation. “There is the need for total commitment and guidance for the new talent,” he said. “This team is working for the future of Greek football and idols and heroes will be created. People may think that I am overdoing it, but I classify our success as one of the biggest sporting achievements of this century.”