Disqualification from Championships
Parents of the Saanich Fusion U17 boys soccer team are requesting an appeal following the disqualification of their team and an opposing team from the Okanagan from the provincial championships. The disqualification occurred after a round-robin game played on Saturday in Nanaimo, where Saanich Fusion and Okanagan FC faced each other.
This particular match did not impact the championship standings, as both teams had already secured their spots in the finals. They were scheduled to compete against each other again in the championship game the following day. The Saturday game concluded in a 1-1 tie.
However, on Sunday morning, as both teams were preparing for the championship match, BC Soccer informed them of their disqualification. Cathy Cooke, a parent from Saanich, described the emotional impact on the players, stating it was difficult to witness their distress.
Torsten Ely, another parent, mentioned receiving the news while en route to watch what he anticipated would be a significant game for his son. Both Cooke and Ely assert that neither the parents nor the players have been provided with a specific reason for the disqualification.
Concerns Over Conduct and Communication
A video circulating online reportedly shows players from both teams exhibiting a lack of competitive effort, with referees present during the game. This footage has drawn online criticism regarding the teams’ perceived lack of competitive play in a championship series.
Ely and Cooke contend that BC Soccer, the governing body, had permitted both teams to play without exerting full effort. Cooke stated that they were informed it was acceptable for the players to play in this manner because they anticipated a challenging match against each other the next day and wanted to prevent injuries.
Ely highlighted that BC Soccer officials were observing the game and did not intervene during the 90-minute match, even at halftime, to indicate any rule violations. He emphasized that no one informed their boys that they were breaking any rules.
Okanagan FC acknowledged in a statement that the game was played in a non-competitive way, which the club believes “fell short of our standards of professional conduct.” The club stated it “unequivocally does not condone the behaviour of our team during the match” and accepts the decision made by BC Soccer.
The club’s statement also referred to the Saturday incident as “a profound learning moment” for the young athletes, who have otherwise represented the club well over several years.
Call for Due Process
Section 4.2 of the BC Soccer Code of Conduct, available online, mandates that all players must “Participate and appear on time, well-nourished, and prepared to participate to their best abilities in all competitions, practices, training sessions, evaluations, tournaments, and events.”
Despite Okanagan FC‘s acceptance of the decision, parents of the Saanich Fusion team are advocating for due process. They argue that the disqualification has negatively affected the mental well-being of their players.
Cooke noted the significance of the event. The disqualification resulted in the third- and fourth-place teams in the group advancing to Sunday’s final.
The Okanagan FC U15 boys and U14 girls teams both achieved gold medals at the Provincial A Cup in Nanaimo, winning their respective trophies after penalty kick shootouts in their finals. The U15 boys secured wins against Guildford Athletic, North Van Football Club, and Gorge Soccer Association before their final match. The U14 girls, after a scoreless draw, achieved victories over Coastal FC and Saanich Fusion FC to reach their final.
The Okanagan FC statement also expressed appreciation to BC Soccer and Nanaimo United for hosting the tournament.
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Source: cheknews.ca
As CasinoNews's Sports News Writer, Mason Leclair reports on the CFL, golf and combat sports for readers across the country. He moved from regional papers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Carleton University. Mason lives in Ottawa, where he follows the PGA Tour and mixed martial arts. “Get the facts down first, then add the context.”
