VILLAR: "REFEREES SHOULD NOT BE EXCLUDED ON THE BASIS OF THEIR NATIONALITY"
LEIWEKE: MLS TO ANNOUNCE WITHIN THE NEXT 365 DAYS THAT IT WILL ADD 2 MORE TEAMS

FIFA VP Villar & Anschutz Entertainment Group's Tim Leiweke Appeared Today at the 5th Honda Symposium in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (October 9, 2002) - Angel Villar, the President of the Spanish Soccer Federation and a Vice President of FIFA and UEFA, said called on the soccer world to strengthen the domestic leagues at today's Honda Symposium in Los Angeles.

"The domestic leagues are the heart of soccer," Villar said. "Right now international competitions between clubs are the second priority. We have to work in order to ensure that domestic league and cup competitions also remain strong."

Villar, a former player who has been President of Spain's Soccer Federation since 1988 who was recently named Chairman of FIFA's Referees Committee, also spoke about referees his presentation titled "The Next 4 Years in World Soccer: Thoughts and Expectations."

Villar, a former player who has been President of Spain's Soccer Federation since 1988 who was recently named Chairman of FIFA's Referees Committee, also spoke about referees his presentation titled "The Next 4 Years in World Soccer: Thoughts and Expectations."

"All of the major leagues around the world can and should use professional referees," said Villar. "We should also take care to ensure that referees are not excluded from international competitions on the basis of their nationality. The question for future competitions is should the linesman and referee should all be from the same country, which may result in officials participating who are not at the international level, or if we should continue to the present system of mixing officials from all different parts of the world."

Also speaking at today's Honda Symposium was Tim Leiweke, President of Anschutz Entertainment Group. As President of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), he is responsible for AEG's interests in soccer, including the U.S. English language television rights for the World Cup, as well as six Major League Soccer franchises. Under Leiweke, AEG built Staples Center in Los Angeles and next turns its attention to the development of The Home Deport National Training Center. Leiweke spoke about "AEG & The Future of Professional Soccer in the U.S."

"In about 20 years I predict that professional soccer will be the second most popular sport in this country. It's going to happen," said Leiweke.

Leiweke also addressed the future expansion of Major League Soccer, saying that "within the next 365 days the league will announce that it will be adding two more teams. Then, we will add two more down the road." Leiweke then added that AEG will not own any of these teams.

"Our purpose is not to be the majority owner of Major League Soccer. Someday we will have 20 teams with 20 different owners. We are committed to Major League Soccer but we don't want to dominate Major League Soccer," said Leiweke.

Today's Honda Symposium and Tuesday's Honda Player of the Year ceremony were attended by many soccer dignitaries who traveled from all over the world to Los Angeles for these events. They include current and former players such as Landon Donovan, Brad Friedel, Carlos Hermosillo, Jaime "La Chelona" Rodriguez, Eric Wynalda; coaches such as Steve Sampson; and soccer federation officials like Angel María Villar from Spain, Hermes Navarro from Costa Rica, Alan Rothenberg from the U.S. and Ricardo Mendez from Mexico, just to name a few.

Created in 1998 by Fútbol de Primera and sponsored by American Honda Motor Company Inc., the Honda Symposium features soccer's foremost executives, coaches and players leading an open forum on the major issues in soccer. Past participants include FIFA Senior Vice President Julio Grondona, FIFA's Dr. Michel D'Hooghe, former FIFA Director of Communications Keith Cooper, former U.S. Soccer President Alan Rothenberg, Executive Vice President of U.S. Soccer Sunil Gulati and World Cup coaches Bora Milutinovic, Javier Aguirre, Marcelo Bielsa and Steve Sampson.