Matthew Glenesk

Indianapolis Star

UPDATE: On Tuesday, a spokesman for the United States Soccer Federation told IndyStar sanctioning decisions regarding the North American Soccer League and United Soccer League will take more time than originally planned.

On Dec. 6, USSF announced a decision on whether or not the NASL and/or USL would receive Division 2 status was postponed seven to 10 days. That initial timeframe lapsed on Friday.

"Discussions are still ongoing and will be through the end of the year," a USSF spokesman told IndyStar. The spokesman added "there is no specific reason" for the delay and that sides "are still talking it through."

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED:

It's been more than a week since the United States Soccer Federation postponed its sanctioning announcement regarding the North American Soccer League – home to the Indy Eleven – and the United Soccer League.

On Dec. 6, the USSF said it was delaying its decision seven to 10 days. Friday was Day No. 10. And still no word.

So where do things stand? And what does it mean for the Indy Eleven? Well, that's a question with no clearer answer than a week ago.

NASL, which has lost three teams this offseason, is tenuously holding onto its second-division status. USL, which continues to grow and has the backing of Major League Soccer, lies in the third-tier of U.S. Soccer with hopes of moving up to Division 2. However, both leagues would need concessions from USSF to satisfy Division 2 requirements.

On 1070 The Fan's "Soccer Saturday" show, Indy Eleven president Jeff Belskus reiterated the team's desire to stay in the NASL – as long as the league remains Division 2.

"The Division 2 status is our preference at this point," Belskus told 1070's Greg Rakestraw. "And at this point in the U.S. professional soccer world, that’s the NASL. Until that changes, one of the leagues goes in a different direction, we’ll make that evaluation at that time on what’s best for us.”

Belskus added there's not a lot of news to report on where the USSF stands on its sanctioning decision despite the lapsing of its seven-to-10-day timeline.

"At this point, the most I know is what I’m reading in the Twitter world and social media, and that there are ongoing decisions in New York between the NASL and the U.S. Soccer Federation on a path forward," Belskus said.

"We are preparing to play in 2017. Like I said, I expect it to be in the NASL, but who knows what twists or turns that may take."

Reports Dec. 15 from Empire of Soccer and Big Apple Soccer cited sources claiming the NASL plans to stave off dissolution and will compete in 2017 with eight to 10 teams.

"That is the goal," the source told Michael Lewis of Big Apple Soccer. "Not every 'I' is dotted or T' is crossed."

Which teams would make up that eight to 10 club projection is unclear.

• Defending league champions New York Cosmos disputed reports the team had folded despite canceling all player contracts and furloughing front office staff.

• The Carolina RailHawks franchise rebranded last week as North Carolina FC, eyeing a future bid at MLS expansion, but didn't commit to either the USL or NASL in its announcement.

• Rayo OKC, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Jacksonville Armada are all in the depths of financial troubles, muddying their 2017 future. On Wednesday, Jacksonville released five players and according to players' agents told others they can begin looking for new clubs. Thursday, Jacksonville eliminated its full-time Director of Broadcasting position.

All this club turmoil doesn't paint an optimistic picture for the future of the NASL.

Cosmos chairman Seamus O'Brien told The Guardian this week that playing in a league with fewer than eight teams is not an option for them.

“There are a number of folks with the NASL, many of my colleagues there that believe in the future. It’s not that we don’t believe in the future of the league – it’s just that we can’t play in a seven-team league,” O’Brien told The Guardian. “As a business, you’ve got to react to that. And that is what we have done. We are trying to tidy everything up as professionally as we can in the interim and look for how to move forward, that’s what we are here to do.”

Puerto Rico FC president Thomas Payne echoed those sentiments to Nipun Chopra, an Indy-based soccer blogger, and cited a potential USL-NASL merger as a potential option.

“A league with only 5 to 6 teams is not competitive and not meaningful, and ultimately not something we’re interested in," Payne told Chopra. "This is why we hope this merger will happen, or we’ll continue to explore our other options.”

A merger between the two leagues was shot down at a board of governors meeting earlier this month, according to Sports Illustrated.

Another report by Sports Illustrated last week suggested Indy Eleven were one of three NASL teams ready to leave for the USL.

After USSF announcement to postpone its NASL/USL decision, Indy Eleven released a statement which didn't mention either league.

“To our fans & partners. We cannot thank you enough for your incredible patience as these unique circumstances continue to be resolved. Know that Indy Eleven continues to plan ahead for the 2017 season at Carroll Stadium and that we provide updates as possible.”

Part of the holdup could be the potential negotiations of exit fees for clubs leaving the NASL. FiftyFive.One delved deeper into that aspect Thursday. Wes Burdine of FiftyFive.one writes:

"The current stalemate is a high-stakes soccer version of the prisoner’s dilemma. Each club that is currently viable needs to have a league to play in for the 2017 season. However, to discourage defection, the NASL made the cost of leaving its league very high under normal circumstances. And that creates a strong financial incentive to stay as long as possible before jumping ship. Leave the NASL too early and risk paying millions in exit fees. Jump too late and a club may find itself without a league to play in, suspending play for its first team for an entire season (at best)."

The NASL operates in near secrecy, so gathering information on particulars is hard to come by. FiftyFive.One got its hands on 2014 league paperwork, and while things may have changed since then, if the 2014 bylaws are taken into account, the two most recent defections (Ottawa and Tampa Bay to the USL), would have been required to pay $1.5 million each, according to FiftyFive.One.

"The remainder of clubs, assuming they decide before December 15, would have to pay out $2 million each, unless the league drops below seven teams, at which point a club would only have to pay $25,000 to exit."

So what's happening with the NASL?

Like we said earlier, that's a question with no clearer answer than a week ago.

Stay tuned.