Columbus, Seattle agree over Schmid tangle

A potential dispute between the expansion Seattle Sounders and the Columbus Crew was resolved Friday, with allocation money and cash heading to the 2008 MLS Cup champions.

Seattle and Crew reached an agreement over the contract of Sigi Schmid. The 2008 MLS Coach of the Year recently completed his contract with Columbus the two sides failed to reach an agreement for an extension.

As such, Schmid met with Seattle officials last week. Columbus, however, filed tampering charges with the league, claiming there was contact made before Schmid's contract had expired.

Seattle has sent an unspecified amount of allocation money and cash the way of the Crew, and so Columbus has dropped any charges. Schmid and Seattle are free to resume contract negotiations.

The league has found no evidence of tampering and considers the matter resolved.