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A missed $700 payment for Union II striker Jose Riasco has landed the Philadelphia Union on FIFA’s player registration ban list. Happy first day of Union preseason!

In the email today:

1. ❌ Banned by FIFA

The Philadelphia Union have run into a snag with new player registration with global governing body FIFA. The Union are among 28 teams from Concacaf and the only from MLS currently on FIFA's player registration ban list.

Jose Nunez first reported the Union's appearance on the list Monday.

Clubs placed on the list "are temporarily prohibited from registering new players due to various infractions, such as financial disputes or regulatory breaches," according to FIFA.

According to reporting from Jonathan Tannenwald at the Inquirer, the ban stems from a missed $700 payment to Jose Riasco's first youth club, Mineros de Guayana.

While this certainly doesn't look good considering the state of the roster and the need for reinforcements ahead of the season opener on February 22, LA Galaxy were placed on the list last January and they went on to win MLS Cup. FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew are also MLS teams that have also been on the list in recent years.

The transfer window for MLS doesn't open until January 31. While the ban is for three registration periods, it can and should be lifted prior to that since the money owed has reportedly been paid.

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2. 🐍 Brandan Craig joins CF Montreal for preseason camp

Philadelphia native Brandan Craig's search for playing time in MLS has led him to a team north of the border.

The 20-year-old center back is an invite to CF Montreal's preseason training camp in Tampa. Craig spent last season on loan with El Paso Locomotive in the USL Championship and was in talks to return to the Philadelphia Union after his option was declined.

Craig was signed to the first team as a homegrown player in November 2020 but outside of a 3-minute cameo in 2022 was not able to crack the lineup under former head coach Jim Curtin. He was loaned out in 2023 to Austin FC but didn't play and then was sent to El Paso for the 2024 season. He made 19 appearances and logged 1,405 minutes for the Locomotive. He also played in the USL Championship with Philadelphia Union II in their last season in the second division league and has been a standout on US youth national teams, notably at the U-20 Concacaf Championship and U-20 World Cup.

Craig will join Chester, Pa.-born center back George Campbell in camp with Montreal. The 23-year-old made 28 starts last season for Montreal.

Caden Grabfelder, a former FC Delco and Philadelphia Union Academy midfielder who was drafted by CF Montreal is not on the preseason training camp roster. Grabfelder, who is from Allentown, Pa., has two years of eligibility left with the Nittany Lions. Montreal will retain his MLS rights until December 31, 2026.

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5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• Matt Real is returning to Colorado Springs Switchbacks for their title defense.

• Veteran Rowan assistant Tom Eichhorn has been tapped as the new head coach of Rowan College Gloucester’s women’s program.

• The Union will play two games in Spain before heading to Clearwater to take on FC Cincinnati on February 7. Their first game is Sunday against SK Slavia Prague and they also play Aarhus Gymnastikforening on January 26. As Todd Lewis from The Free Kick has reported, Mikael Uhre’s brother-in-law plays for AGF.

• Philadelphia-based referee Kathryn Nesbitt has been named U.S. Soccer Female Referee of the Year.

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