Football
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondent 7y

U.S. Soccer financials show $6.2m accounting charge for Klinsmann firing

The U.S. Soccer Federation incurred a "one-time, non-cash accounting charge" of $6.2 million related to the firing of former men's national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann and his staff, according to a document presented at the USSF's 2017 Annual General Meeting.

Becca Roux, the interim executive director of the U.S. Women's National Team Players Association, made the disclosure via her Twitter account.

Reached by email, USSF president Sunil Gulati said that the $6.2m figure was a way of accounting for Klinsmann's dismissal in the USSF's financials, and not reflective of what Klinsmann was actually paid. Gulati didn't elaborate further.

Under the heading "FY '17 Fiscal Results and Highlights," the document indicated that there was a "one-time non-cash accounting charge of ($6.2m) related to the MNT coaching staff changes."

According to USSF's Form 990 tax filing for the 2016 fiscal year, Klinsmann made a base salary of $3,050,813. At the time of his firing, Klinsmann had a little over two years left to run on his contract. Assistant Andi Herzog's base salary for 2016 fiscal year was $398,993.

Klinsmann and Herzog were fired on Nov. 21 after the U.S. lost its first two games in the Hexagonal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. Klinsmann was later replaced by Bruce Arena.

Klinsmann was hired in 2011 and led the U.S. men's national team out of a difficult group at the 2014 World Cup. But the U.S. was beaten by Belgium 2-1 in extra time in the round of 16. Under his watch, the U.S. claimed the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

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