MLS Marketing Director Alleges Racial Discrimination and Retaliation

A former marketing director at Major League Soccer (MLS) has filed a lawsuit claiming he was unfairly treated and ultimately fired due to racial bias. Cedric Shine, who joined MLS in December 2022, asserts that after expressing concerns over racial discrimination, he faced retaliation from senior management.

Shine states that he was promised a promotion to senior director of marketing, but shortly after new supervisors took over in February, the promotion was rescinded and awarded instead to a white colleague. When Shine confronted HR regarding what he viewed as racial favoritism, he was promoted temporarily—despite his supervisors objecting—only to face ongoing harassment and punitive actions. He recounts being unfairly criticized, having his marketing budget cut, and witnessing colleagues leave events he organized abruptly, all of which damaged his reputation.

According to the lawsuit, Shine attempted to address his concerns directly with league leadership, including a scheduled meeting with Deputy Commissioner Gary Stevenson. However, instead of resolving the issues, he alleges he was dismissed in retaliation. The lawsuit claims that the league’s actions have negatively impacted his career, emotional health, and personal life, seeking unspecified damages for these grievances.

Shine alleges that his supervisors dismissed his attempts to challenge their decisions, claiming questioning his performance would reflect poorly on his ability to accept criticism. This environment of retaliation allegedly culminated in his firing after he sought to report ongoing issues.

Despite MLS’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion through anti-racism campaigns, the league denied Shine’s allegations of racial discrimination, stating that his claims are without merit and affirming their commitment to an equitable environment.