Women's league imperiled by Borislow suit

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Jan 11, 2012

[WPS] Women's Professional Soccer isn't done with Dan Borislow and his magicJack just yet. Borislow won a victory in a Palm Beach County Circuit Court on Monday as Judge Meenu Sasser ruled WPS failed to follow the proper procedures to resolve disputes in kicking magicJack out of the league after a tumultuous 2011 campaign. The judge set a hearing for Wednesday to hear arguments that the league will suffer "irreparable harm" if Borislow is granted a temporary injunction to have MagicJack reinstated.

The league had said its owners would rather quit than put up with Borislow any longer.

The issue in the Palm Beach court isn't whether Borislow and magicJack should be kicked out of the league but what sort of dispute-resolution process should be employed to do that.

"We are extremely disappointed with the court's findings and will consider our legal options," WPS CEO Jennifer O'Sullivan said in a statement to media. "Mr. Borislow's abusive behavior and blatant disregard for League rules were a clear breach of contract and led to the Boards' dismissal of magicJack as a franchise. His statements and actions negatively impacted the league's business including efforts to attract expansion teams and sponsors, jeopardized player safety and threatened the very integrity of the League.

"WPS owners took several measures to rectify the situation before making the difficult decision to dismiss Mr. Borislow from the League. If the court rules to reinstate the franchise, my fear is that ownership will seriously consider folding the League, thus ending professional soccer for women in the United States."