The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) announced yesterday that the 2024 NISA Eastern Conference Regular Season Champion Maryland Bobcats FC has been deemed ineligible to participate in the 2024 NISA Playoffs due to not complying with the league and the U.S. Soccer Federation standards. The Bobcats finished the regular season with an overall record of (16-2-1, 50 points) and ended the season on a 17-match unbeaten streak. The NISA league released the following statement on its decision to exclude the Bobcats from postseason play.
“Today the National Independent Soccer Association announced revised 2024 playoff details to accommodate the three clubs earning participation – Los Angeles Force, Irvine Zeta FC, and Michigan Stars FC. The league regrettably announces Maryland Bobcats FC is ineligible as it is not in compliance with the league nor the U.S. Soccer Federation.”
The Maryland Bobcats FC also released a statement on the leagues decision to exclude the club from postseason play.
With the Bobcats season over, the NISA Playoff format will look dramatically different than initially planned. We will now only have three NISA clubs playing in the playoffs: Irvine Zeta FC, LA Force, and the Michigan Stars FC, which will be contending for the 2024 NISA Championship. The Michigan Stars FC, who were supposed to be the Bobcats opponents this weekend, will now travel to California to take on Irvine Zeta FC on Saturday, October 12, at Championship Stadium in that semifinal matchup. The matchup winner will face the LA Force in the Championship final. The Los Angeles Force will receive a bye and host the Championship final on Saturday, October 19, at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
NISA Today FC Podcast 