A federal judge has denied the North American Soccer League's request for a mandatory injunction against the U.S. Soccer Federation to regain its Division II designation.
The decision comes as a massive blow to the NASL, and puts its continued existence into doubt.
In U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Judge Margo K. Brodie heard arguments from both sides earlier this week. The NASL argued that it would endure "irreparable harm" by not regaining its Division II designation, in that it would effectively be put out of business.
The NASL also alleged that the USSF is engaged in a conspiracy, along with MLS, Soccer United Marketing -- the league's marketing arm -- and the second tier USL, and that the USSF applied and changed the Professional League Standards -- which spell out the criteria for Division I, II, and III designation -- to harm the NASL.