by JAKE NUTTING

The general consensus these days within the American Soccer bubble is that the ongoing tiff between the NASL and MLS/U.S. Soccer Federation is one that can shape the future of professional soccer in the United States.

There is good reason to assume so. It was recently revealed that the NASL enlisted noted sports attorney Jeffrey Kessler this summer to draft a letter accusing U.S. Soccer and MLS of violating antitrust laws through proposed changes to the first division standards. The second division league’s argument stems from the fact that the suggested changes manifested shortly after it filed an application for first division status at the beginning of the year.

This is undoubtedly an accusation not to be taken lightly, but it’s far from the first time that the NASL has butted heads with the federation.

Ian Plenderleith’s book, Rock ‘n’ Roll Soccer: The Short Life and Fast Times of the North American Soccer League, showcases that the infighting these days cannot hold a candle to the squabbling that the original NASL and U.S. Soccer endured during that league’s seventeen year run as the top dog in American professional soccer.

Plenderleith presents an engaging tale about the original NASL that burned bright for a few years before crashing back down to Earth. Many accounts of the NASL boom in the 1970s can lean on the tedious side; they rehash stories about the same old stars and franchises. NASL heritage fanatics can enjoy the requisite Pele, Rodney Marsh and George Best stories. However, Plenderleith also delves deep into other, less worn subjects, including an opening chapter in the instrumental role that the Atlanta Chiefs played in the foundation of the NASL. This section should be of interest to modern NASL followers considering the uncertain future of the Atlanta Silverbacks.

Perhaps the most illuminating and valuable chapter in the book, however, is the detailing of tensions that existed between the NASL — and pretty much every other organization in soccer from its inception to its very last season.

In the chapter appropriately titled “The NASL vs. FIFA and the world,” Plenderleith lays out that the league was only founded through tense Christmas negotiations between the feuding National Professional Soccer League and U.S. Soccer, hosted by the President of FIFA himself, Stanley Rous. The thought of any league or federation knocking on FIFA’s door for help settling domestic disputes seems laughable given today’s scandalous climate.

The NPSL was merging with the United Soccer Association in a desperate attempt to survive. The only problem was that the NPSL had been at odds with the U.S. all throughout its debut year. The federation went as far as to blacklist every NPSL player — and the league responded by slapping them with an antitrust (there’s that word again) lawsuit.

Eventually, a flimsy peace was reached — but the relationship between the two sides never softened. One quote in particular on the NASL’s controversial attempts to eliminate the offside trap demonstrates the serious contempt on the part of then-U.S. Soccer President Gene Edwards.

“They will not suffer one iota from the abolition of the 35-yard rule. If they want brighter soccer, maybe they should buy better players.”

Try to imagine current USSF President Sunil Gulati spewing that kind of outright vitriol toward the modern NASL in this age of Twitter and Reddit.

One thing is abundantly clear from Plenderleith’s engaging staging of all the many grievances the NASL embroiled itself in – neither incarnation of the NASL has ever been about going with the flow. Owners were openly hostile toward what they deemed intrusive oversight from the overlords at FIFA. Ironically, the league’s focus in the modern era has shifted to aligning American soccer more with the rest of the world, but the bickering within our own shores has remained robust.

No matter the century, it seems as if the NASL and USSF are destined to be on opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, like some twisted soccer version of the Hatfields and McCoys.

With the roots that MLS has established over two decades, the odds of the new NASL reaching its past zenith are far from favorable. What is undeniable, though, is that the league’s rebellious spirit is alive and well, and it will scrape and claw with every available resource to thrive — just like the old days.

Plenderleith’s book was released in the UK last year, but is now available for purchase stateside in both hardcover and digital format.