Baltimore Blast and former goalie near settlement in lawsuits

Lawyers for the Baltimore Blast indoor soccer team and former goalie William Vanzela recently requested a judge to postpone a hearing in Baltimore County Circuit Court. The delay aims to provide the parties additional time to finalize their settlement agreement, which remains incomplete, The Baltimore Banner reported.

The legal dispute began when Vanzela filed a lawsuit in 2024 alleging the team falsely accused him of criminal involvement and withheld his salary improperly. In response, the Baltimore Blast filed a separate lawsuit in 2025 claiming Vanzela received at least $15,000 in unauthorized payments, according to The Baltimore Banner.

Vanzela served as the Blast's starting goalie for nearly a decade, winning four championships. He contended the team canceled his guaranteed contract to avoid paying him and to pursue younger players. The Blast issued a statement in late 2023 addressing allegations involving a former general manager and player suspensions, which Vanzela disputed as false and issued due to fan backlash.

The former general manager, Gianni Tumminello, pleaded guilty to theft between $25,000 and $100,000 from the team and received a suspended sentence with probation. Vanzela currently works as associate head men's soccer coach at Johns Hopkins University, The Baltimore Banner noted.

The court will revisit the case after the parties complete their settlement process, potentially resolving the long-running legal conflict involving the Baltimore Blast and Vanzela.