Text Of Major League Soccer’s Official Post-Game Interview Policy

Toronto coach Aron Winter appears to be in violation of Major League Soccer’s policy regarding access to the post-game locker room. According to the league’s 2011 Operational Manual, the locker rooms must be opened up to media no more than 10 minutes after the game:

6.11.1 Media Access to Locker Rooms. MLS requires that the Team dressing rooms must be opened to the media no later than 10 minutes after a game (referred to as “cooling down” period). In addition, players must be made available to media prior to games up until 60 minutes before kickoff. A team may, at its discretion, a) open its locker room to media during this pregame period OR b) ensure that a Public Relations staff member be stationed outside the locker room to make any interview requests on behalf of media members. Teams must adhere to one of those two means of pregame media access throughout the season and playoffs. Pregame media access procedure must be properly communicated to all relevant security personnel. Any violations of these rules may result in fines. Team PR directors should be present to signal the beginning of media locker access period before and after League games. Exceptional circumstances may require players to be available to media outside these windows including for national broadcast partners to conduct taped interviews before and after games for use on same-day broadcasts. “Media” consists of the following categories of working professionals who hold appropriate credentials: writers, photographers, radio and television sportscasters and their crews. No individuals other than League or Team representatives or members of the media will be allowed in Team locker rooms following a game. It is left to the discretion of each Team PR Director whether to permit the entry of accredited photographers into locker rooms. Under no circumstances will any club discriminate in any fashion against an accredited member of the media based upon race, creed, sex or national origin.

6.11.2 Post-Game Media Access. A Head Coach may keep the locker room closed to the media for the purpose of a post-Game Team meeting for no more than TEN (10) minutes from the end of the Game (determined by the Referee’s whistle). Teams will remain on site for a minimum of FORTY (45) minutes after the conclusion of the Game for interview purposes. Violations of this policy may result in fines to the offending party.

Winter’s policy came to light in a letter he apparently sent to members of the media, informing them that they would no longer be given access to the post-game locker room. Dan Courtemanche, the league’s head of communications had this to say about the situation: