Major League Soccer (MLS) News & Notes

The Seattle Sounders became the first team to qualify into the MLS postseason last Friday, beating Real Salt Lake 3-2 on a late goal by midfielder Andy Rose, who came in as a late replacement for Gonzalo Pineda.

With Real Salt Lake playing with a man down after defender Nat Borchers hacked Obafemi Martins on a breakaway in the 68th minute, Rose managed to score in the 94th minute of the game after Osvaldo Alonso set him up for the shot late in the game that he blasted into the net.

The Sounders have qualified for the playoffs all six years of their existence and will now focus on winning the Supporters Shield -- the most points in the leagues -- to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the MLS Cup.

In other news, the league's Disciplinary Committee handed down fines for the shoving incident that occurred in the Sept. 10 match between the New York Red Bulls and DC United. MLS fined the DC franchise, head coach Ben Olsen, midfielder Davy Arnaud and defender Sean Franklin for breaking the league's mass-confrontation policy (second time for Olsen) while Red Bulls defender Roy Miller was sanctioned for violating the league's hands-to-the-face/head policy after Milner grabbed Arnaud by the throat during an argument.

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Coming off the heels of FIFA president Sepp Blatter announcing that he wanted to install a video challenge system in the near future, MLS Commissioner Don Garber has offered to become the first soccer league in the world to be a part of the experiment that would give coaches the opportunity to dispute refereeing decisions much like in baseball and American football.

Blatter said that he would like a domestic league or the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, to be held in New Zealand, to implement the new system, which would entail coaches challenging plays once or twice per half during dead ball opportunities.

Garber has expressed interest in being a guinea pig league in such an endeavour, with MLS Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott, who attended the FIFA Zurich meetings last week, letting the world soccer governing body know that they would be happy to work with them to help make instant replay challenges a reality.

"I don't know what their plans are to experiment with that, but I believe the time has come for there to be a mechanism so that games are not determined by [referee calls] that are not right," said Garber.

LIGA MX News & Notes

The big story coming out of Liga MX, without a doubt, has been Queretaro FC's signing of Brazilian legend Ronaldinho.

The 2005 Ballon d'Or winner, who also won 2002 World Cup for Brazil, as well as hoisted the 2005-2006 Champions League championship trophy with La Liga's FC Barcelona, is set to play this week, having reported to the team's training facilities after signing a two-year deal with the Mexican club. The 34-year-old is coming off a winning campaign, with Clube Atlético Mineiro of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, helping the team win their first ever Copa Liberatadores title in club history.

Queretaro is currently holding on to the eighth spot in the standings, the last qualifying spot into the Apertura Liguilla (playoffs) tournament.

"I had the chance to sign for teams from almost all over the world but I have always fancied living here and I want to keep my story going," said Ronaldinho. "I've been a champion at all the teams I've played for. I am a player with loads of ambition, I want to make history with the club and I am very motivated."

The move to Queretaro has not been without its controversy after former Secretary of Social Development Carlos Manuel Trevino Nunez hurled a racial slur at the Brazilian superstar, writing on his Facebook page, "I HATE SOCCER, and the idiotic phenomenon it produces. I hate it even more because people get in the way and flood the streets making me take up to two hours just to get home. And all just to see a MONKEY. A Brazilian monkey, but a monkey nonetheless."

Queretaro officials are fully supporting their latest acquisition, saying they will seek some sort of punishment against the politician.

"We as a club will go to the furthest reach of the law so that these types of expressions never affect our players or any member of our club again," said the club in a written statement.

Meanwhile, Club America is still top of the league in the Apertura season despite having scoring issues, experiencing major failures in putting the ball into the net, last scoring Aug. 16 in their 3-2 win against Monarcas Morelia.

Part of the reason for America's power outage could be the departure of Raul Jimenez, who left to play for La Liga's Athletico Madrid. Despite two draws in their last three games, CF Monterrey and Santos Laguna have failed to capitalize on America's offensive struggles, with both clubs second and third respectively in the standings.

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