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MLS First Kick 2011: Blaise Nkufo Cuts Ties With Seattle Sounders An Hour Before Kickoff With L.A. Galaxy

Blaise Nkufo and the Seattle Sounders have agreed to part ways. According to the official Seattle Sounders press release:

Seattle Sounders FC and Blaise Nkufo have mutually agreed to end the Swiss forward's association with the club, effective immediately, it was announced today.

The details of Nkufo's status are being negotiated by Sounders FC, the player's representative and Major League Soccer.

It was reported earlier that there had been an "incident" at training that had resulted in disciplinary action against the forward, and that Nkufo would be left out of the starting lineup for the Sounders match against the L.A. Galaxy. Obviously it was much more than an isolated incident that lead the team to the conclusion that the Swiss international would be leaving, but the full details may never be revealed.

The real question is, why did this move happen an hour before First Kick? Many Sounders fans expected Nkufo to head to Vancouver Whitecaps during the expansion draft. Could this not have been worked out in the offseason?