Report: MLS orders Orlando City to stop pursuit of Antonio Nocerino

Major League Soccer has reportedly sent Orlando City an order to cease its pursuit of AC Milan midfielder Antonio Nocerino, citing tampering rules as the player's discovery rights belong to D.C. United.

Orlando City had reportedly been in talks with Nocerino in an effort to strike a deal, with Lions head coach Adrian Heath telling reporters "We've been trying, we've been trying all weekend," and adding the club thought it was close to a signature before "it went off the boil a little bit, but as of last night it was back on. So we're hopeful."

The Washington Post's Steve Goff reports that the league has stepped in to enforce its discovery rights rule and, as such, Orlando could face sanctions from MLS.

Goff reports that D.C. United is "irate" with Orlando's conduct, too.

MLS responded to the report, saying "There have been no tampering charges filed at the league office, so we will not comment on any hypothetical situations."

Should Nocerino choose to join MLS, he would sign a contract with the league, as all players in MLS do, and would then be allocated to the team that had placed a discovery claim on him first. Since D.C. United had placed a claim on Nocerino already, Orlando cannot negotiate with the player without first acquiring the rights from D.C. United.