A monumental scandal is brewing in the sports world, as a federal investigation has put two of the most influential unions in US professional sports in the spotlight: the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).
According to recent reports, both organizations are under scrutiny for their involvement in OneTeam Partners, a joint venture created with the aim of generating revenue for athletes, but which could now be embroiled in a possible conflict of interest, and even financial mismanagement.
According to the Wall Street Journal, federal investigators are focusing on whether union leaders such as Clark or others may have abused their positions to benefit financially through OneTeam.
Although there are no formal charges at this time, the progress of the investigation could have important implications not only for the union leaders, but also for the players’ trust in their representatives.
What happened to OneTeam Partners?
OneTeam Partners was founded as a strategic partnership to monetize the name, image and likeness (NIL) rights of professional players. However, it is now under scrutiny by federal authorities for alleged irregularities.
Several media outlets report that some FBI agents have even contacted MLB players directly to inquire about their knowledge of the company’s financial operations.
Although OneTeam has denied any allegations, stating that no board member or union employee holds equity or has benefited from the SEIP, investigators are seeking to clarify whether there was any misappropriation of funds.
What happened to Tony Clark?
Among the names mentioned in the investigations is Tony Clark, current executive director of the MLBPA, as according to an anonymous complaint cited by The Athletic, Clark would have benefited himself and other executives with a financial stake in OneTeam, which would raise a potential conflict of interest between his role as union leader and his ties to the aforementioned company.
Clark, who has held the position since 2013 and has led the association through two rounds of collective bargaining, now faces a situation that could call into question his continued leadership of the union. Both the MLBPA and Clark are believed to have retained legal representation in response to the ongoing investigation.
In the case of the NFLPA, there are also internal concerns. Sources indicate that labor representatives within the OneTeam board have expressed concerns about financial decisions that could personally benefit certain executives. Lloyd Howell Jr., executive director of the NFL union, has also been mentioned in the context of these suspicions.
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