George H. Cohen, the Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, was picked to mediate the labor dispute between MLS and the MLS Players Union. Cohen has vast experience in the labor field, mostly working for unions, and taught “The Art of Collective Bargaining" at Georgetown School of Law. He was nominated for his current role by President Barack Obama.

As Ben Berger explains, mediation doesn't mean the dispute will be resolved. It isn't arbitration. A mediator's role is to help prod two sides to resolve their differences. He or she will usually go back and forth between the two sides delivering proposals and counterproposals until everything is settled.

Mediation has been successful if two sides reach a compromise they were unable to do sitting across the table from each other.