Commissioner Don Garber says MLS is turning its back on FIFA’s presidential election

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Don Garber, the commissioner of Major League Soccer, was at the Galaxy’s game against New England in Carson on Sunday evening and at one point was asked where MLS stood on the upcoming FIFA presidential election.

Mohamed bin Hammam, president of the Asian soccer confederation and a FIFA executive committee member, is challenging 13-year incumbent Joseph ‘Sepp’ Blatter for the leadership of international soccer’s governing body.

Does Garber favor the 61-year-old Qatari wannabe or the 75-year-old Swiss gnome?

Garber’s response was both quick and quick-witted.

‘We’re supporting our friend Grant Wahl,’ Garber said, referring to the not-quite-altogether tongue-in-cheek candidacy of Wahl, a Princeton graduate, Sports Illustrated writer and David Beckham biographer. ‘I’ve got a ‘Grant Wahl for president’ button.

‘No, we’re going to stay out of that. Sunil [U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati] and Chuck Blazer [the lone American on the FIFA executive committee] have got us represented.

‘I’ve had my fill of FIFA politics for a while. I’m going to stay pretty grounded here and focused on the league.’

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--Grahame L. Jones