MLS News and Injury Report

Dallas Burn forward Jason Kreis underwent arthroscopic surgery on the 16th to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. Kreis will begin rehabilitation immediately and his recovery time is expected to be 3-6 weeks.

The participants and format for the inaugural FC Giants Cup were were also announced on the 16th by Chuck Blazer, General Secretary of the Football Confederation. The Giants Cup was approved last November as one of two major club competitions each year, the second the Champions Cup, which has been the Confederation's premier club competition since 1962. Representing MLS will be the Columbus Crew and D.C. United, the clubs that had best met the criteria set by TFC and MLS. The criteria for entry into the FC Giants Cup was created by MLS in conjunction with the Football Confederation. The factors taken into consideration were paid home attendance, paid away attendance and season tickets. Using this criteria, Columbus and D.C. United qualified from MLS. This new tournament again gives MLS the opportunity to show the high-level of soccer that we play.

San Jose Earthquakes General Manager Tom Neale announced on the 15th, that Dominic Kinnear, the former San Jose player and native of Fremont, Calif., was named as the assistant coach of the team. Kinnear, the 33-year-old former U.S. National Team midfielder, capped an 11-year professional career when he retired from the Tampa Bay Mutiny following the 2000 season. He joins his former Mutiny teammate, Head Coach Frank Yallop, as the assistant coach of the Earthquakes in his first professional coaching position.

Anschutz Entertainment Group, Inc. (AEG) has entered into an agreement to become the operator of three-time MLS Cup Champion D.C. United, effective immediately, Commissioner Don Garber announced on the 15th. After nearly five seasons under the ownership of Washington Soccer, L.P., United becomes the fourth MLS team affiliated with AEG. The company is currently the investor-operator of Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids and Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Los Angeles Galaxy, already booked to participate in this summer's FIFA Club World Championships in Spain, have accepted an invitation to travel to the Far East for a 10-day, three-match exhibition tour that will begin today (Feb. 17-26). The team will meet the Chinese National Team and a pair of clubs - Verdy Kawasaki and Urawa Red Diamonds - from Japan's J-League.

Finally, Major League Soccer has released the complete schedule for the 2001 MLS Preseason Tournament slated for March 14-24 at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The 18-game schedule will feature nine days of doubleheaders and will conclude with an interstate clash between the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny on Saturday, March 24, at 8 p.m. ET.

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