Courtesy: Futsal On Line

Report: U.S. Futsal Loses Affiliation with U.S. Soccer

By Tim Sheldon, Editor

RICHMOND, Va. (1-19-07) - More than one credible source has advised us that the U.S. Futsal Federation (USFF) is no longer a member of the U.S. Soccer Federation. The two associations were in conflict over several issues, the most important one being U.S. Futsal's ownership of the trademark for the generic term, "Futsal".

FIFA reportedly had sent the U.S. Soccer Federation a letter requesting that U.S. Futsal abandon the trademark. The leadership of U.S. Futsal failed to comply and has now lost its affiliation.

U.S. Futsal reportedly had sent a "cease and desist" letter to a major soccer uniform manufacturer for copyright infringement relating to Futsal-related commercials shown during the recent World Cup. The USFF had been sending out warning letters for years to any person showing independent initiative to promote the sport.

U.S. Soccer dealt with the Futsal copyright issue during a meeting in East Rutherford, N.J., on August 12. It noted in its minutes that "some progress had been made with U.S. Futsal Federation (USFF) about the resolution of its use of its trademark on the word Futsal ... the USFF understood the seriousness of the situation and that it wanted to remain part of the Federation."

A hearing was originally set for Nov. 11, 2006, at which U.S. Futsal was in jeopardy of receiving a "bad standing" rating because of the trademark impasse, and a decsion was then delayed until the end of the year.

This disenfranchisement of U.S. Futsal would now leave the Super F League, based in Kansas City, Mo., as the leading U.S. Soccer-affiliated organizing body for Futsal in the U.S.



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com