After club owner Antonio Brown neglected to pay either a necessary fee or a fine he was issued as a result of recent public comments, the National Arena League expelled the Albany Empire from the league on Thursday.

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The NAL board of owners unanimously opted to end the Albany Empire’s membership agreement after exploring all options, the league said in a release. The decision was made following an urgent conference call of the in-good-standing members to talk about the Empire’s nonpayment of their league-mandated and past-due assessments.

In April, Brown acquired a majority ownership stake in the upstate New York squad. All teams are obligated to contribute one-seventh of the NAL operating budget through monthly transactions under the terms of league ownership. The league claimed that while Brown completed the April payment, he failed to do so on May 15 or pay a $1,000 punishment for actions that were harmful to the league. Brown also objected to the April payment, which was given to him again.

According to the NAL, the team accountant told administrators “that it didn’t seem like Mr. Brown was going to pay the assessment or fine,” which prompted the emergency conference call.

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The Empire was given until Thursday at 12:00 ET by the membership to complete the payment. The Albany team’s Saturday home game against the Jacksonville Sharks was cancelled by the NAL when they failed to make payment, and the league will rearrange the balance of the 2023 regular season schedule without them.

After losing to the Orlando Predators last weekend, which reduced Albany to 1-6, both of the team’s quarterbacks were released. Since Brown purchased the Empire, the team has gone through a number of coaches.

Brown immediately took to Twitter after the news of his team’s departure from the National Arena League was announced.

Nothing has been reported yet regarding whether Albany Empire would participate in the upcoming Major Soccer League.