Both Major League Soccer and the New York Red Bulls have denied an internet story that the league blocked the team's bid for the Atlanta Silverbacks' Macoumba Kandji because MLS felt the $200,000 asking price was too high for a player from the United Soccer Leagues.
"I have no idea who the source is for this story but it's absolute nonsense," said MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis. "While I can't comment on this specific player since he's under contract to Atlanta, Red Bull and the League work absolutely in lockstep on player negotiations and the League has not blocked any move for anyone by the Red Bulls."
The story had quoted unnamed sources as saying that MLS didn't want to set a precedent by paying so much for a minor league player. But a team source stated the story was "not true" and "premature." Meanwhile Gazidis touched on a whole different topic by adding, "It's difficult to respond to blog entries where unknown sources are referenced -- and of course blogs are driven by hits, not necessarily by the same standards as print media."
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