A spokesman for the Silverbacks said day-to-day operations of the soccer team haven’t been affected by Wednesday’s arrest of the president of Traffic Sports USA, Aaron Davidson.
Davidson was one of 14 people indicted by the Department of Justice for racketeering, money laundering and fraud. Another of those arrested was CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb, a part-time Atlanta resident.
The NASL, the league the Silverbacks play in and which is serving as a steward for the team while new owners are pursued, and Traffic Sports USA have several ties. But the league has moved to temporarily sever those ties, including all marketing activities handled by Traffic Sports USA and Davidson’s role as chair of the league’s board of governors.
Traffic Sports USA used to own 65 percent of the Silverbacks, but it was sold in December 2013.
Traffic Sports USA also does some work with the Gold Cup, whose semifinals will be played in the Georgia Dome later this summer. SUM handles most of the marketing for the tournament.
The Silverbacks will play Chattanooga in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tonight.
MLS posted this response to the news of the arrests on its social media channels:
“These are extremely serious charges and it is critically important for the entire sport of soccer that fans everywhere have confidence in the integrity of the institutions that govern the game,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “We, like the rest of the soccer world, will be watching this as it develops.”
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