Archive for February 10th, 2011

When news broke last week that women’s national-team coach Carolina Morace was going to resign after the 2011 World Cup over alleged CSA interference in her program, sympathy for the women’s program was widespread.

After all, we were just a day from a massive CSA reform vote — and recently retired Kara Lang was off to Ottawa to carry the torch for the development of the women’s game in Canada. It was a noble cry for equality in a sports world dominated by men.

But, after the vote, as the women announced their intention to boycott games through the media, there is no shaking that, with every passing day, that support is eroding.

A boycott is a massive undertaking, and has repercussion not just for the women’s team, but the whole program. If the Canadian women were to boycott a World Cup match, FIFA reserves the right — it’s written in the tournament rulebook. ““Depending on the circumstances of the withdrawal, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may impose additional sanctions, including the suspension of the Participating Member Association concerned from subsequent FIFA competitions.”

“Participating Member Association” are the three key words. That means FIFA doesn’t just suspend the women’s program, it suspends ALL of Canada’s programs. The entire CSA gets a black eye.
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