Soccer parents speak out after teams disqualified from B.C. provincial championship game
Teams disqualified from provincial championship
Parents of the Saanich Fusion U17 boys soccer team are requesting an appeal following the disqualification of their team and their opponents, Okanagan FC, from the provincial championships. The disqualification occurred after a round-robin game played on Saturday, July 11, in Nanaimo, which ended in a 1-1 tie. Both teams had already secured their spots in the final match scheduled for the following day.
The game between Saanich Fusion and Okanagan FC did not affect the championship standings, as both teams had already qualified for the finals. The match saw both goals scored within a minute of each other. However, on Sunday morning, as players prepared for the championship game, 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 on Sunday morning. Another parent, Torsten Ely, mentioned receiving the news while en route to watch what his son had hoped would be a significant game.
Parents dispute reason for disqualification
Parents Cathy Cooke and Torsten Ely claim that neither the players nor the parents were provided with a specific reason for the disqualification. A video circulating online shows players from both teams exhibiting what appears to be a non-competitive effort, lightly kicking the ball, with referees present. This footage has drawn criticism online regarding the teams’ lack of competitive play during a championship series.
Ely and Cooke contend that BC Soccer, the sport’s governing body, had permitted both teams to play without full intensity. Cooke stated that they were informed it was acceptable for the children to play in that manner because they were anticipating a demanding final match the next day and wished to avoid injuries. Ely added that BC Soccer officials were observing the game, and no one intervened during the 90-minute match to indicate any rules were being broken.
Okanagan FC acknowledged in a statement that the game was played in a non-competitive fashion, which the club believes did not meet its professional conduct standards. The club stated it does not condone the team’s behaviour during the match and accepts BC Soccer‘s decision. Despite understanding the disappointment of players and families, Okanagan FC emphasized the need to take responsibility for their actions.
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.”
Impact on players and next steps
The disqualification meant that the third and fourth-place teams in the group advanced to Sunday’s final. Okanagan FC expressed appreciation for BC Soccer and Nanaimo United for hosting the tournament, describing the incident as a “profound learning moment” for the young athletes.
Parents are advocating for due process, highlighting the negative impact the decision has had on the mental well-being of the players. Cooke noted that this was a national-level game, making it difficult for the children to recover, especially with online criticism.
The Okanagan FC U15 boys and U14 girls teams achieved gold medals at the Provincial A Cup in Nanaimo, with both teams winning their respective finals through penalty kick shootouts. The U15 boys secured wins over Guildford Athletic, North Van Football Club, and Gorge Soccer Association, ultimately defeating Gorge again in the final. The U14 girls, after a scoreless draw, went on to win against Coastal FC and Saanich Fusion FC, before triumphing over Saanich in their final.
The Okanagan FC statement also mentioned that the organization views the team’s actions as unacceptable and is committed to upholding the values of the sport. The disqualification occurred on Saturday night, July 11.
Source: cheknews.ca
