Major League Soccer is a 'single entity' league, which has a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) governing player contracts, salaries and legal status. Contracts are owned by the league rather than individual clubs.
The players' union wants major changes to that structure, which it has called a cartel that restricts freedom of movement. Media reports said the players had approved a possible strike if a new deal was not reached with the owners.
"It's not ready to stand on its own two feet yet," he said of the league. "We have work to do there to make this sport viable in the United States and what we're not going to do is throw out the very economic model that's gotten us through the first 10 turbulent years.
"After 10 years of us kind of propping this damn thing up, I don't think a strike accomplishes anything but disrespect."
Leiweke also said owners would not simply cave in to players' demands to avoid a strike in a year when soccer would take centre stage at the World Cup finals in South Africa.
"Even if it means that we go a year without soccer, so be it," he said. "We went a long time without soccer in this country and we're not going to give up our belief in a system that works.
"We are unanimous within the owners," Leiweke added. "We will wait as long as it takes. We will never, ever agree to change the system."
