Canadian Soccer Association Archive

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The fine lines: Labour law, competitive balance, Canadians and MLS

By
Steven Sandor
– 04/24/2013

D.C. United's Kyle Porter: Canadian player, American club

D.C. United’s Kyle Porter: Canadian player, American club

Just a little over a month ago, The 11 ran the first two parts of a series exploring if, one day, Canadian players could ever be treated as domestic players on the U.S-based MLS teams.

We have looked at the issue from the perspective of Canadian immigration (CLICK HERE) and U.S. immigration (CLICK HERE). Now, in the third part, we ask if it would pass the labour-law sniff test and, if not, why does USL-Pro, the third division of American soccer — allow Canadians to be treated as domestics on its teams’ rosters?

The whole series was spawned after MLS Commissioner Don Garber told TSN’s Jason DeVos during a March 2 First Kick broadcast that MLS would run into labour-law issues if it changed its rules and allowed the 16 U.S.-based teams to recognize Canadians players as “domestic” workers.

The reason the third part has taken so long to complete? I talked to several major law schools in the U.S. and labour-law specialists. I made contact with MLS. But what I underestimated was that, when it came to U.S. labour law, how complex the question was. Over and over, U.S. legal experts told me that the notion of Canadians being treated as domestics on American team rosters would have them venture into a legal grey area. And that meant they didn’t want to go on the record, because there really was no true legal test for the question. In a way, I felt like I had asked Deep Thought the answer to life, the universe and everything, and he replied, “tricky.”
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2

The arbitrator rules: CSL can play in 2013, loses national sanction in 2014

By
Steven Sandor
– 04/24/2013

CSL-LOGO-e1305318993800-150x138The arbitrator’s ruling is in: And it’s a mixed bag.

On Tuesday night, the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada issued its ruling in the battle between the embattled Canadian Soccer League and the Canadian Soccer Association. It found that that the CSA has the right to “de-sanction” the CSL. However, it ruled that the CSA’s decision to de-sanction the semipro circuit can’t go into effect until February of 2014 — as the league needs time to adjust to the new reality of the Canadian soccer landscape.

So, in simple terms, the CSL — which boasts 12 member semipro teams, all based in Ontario — is sanctioned to play out its 2013 season, then will lose the national sanction in early 2014.

“The Canadian Soccer Association decision to de-sanction the CSL was made in light of the endorsed recommendation provided by the Division II viability study conducted by James Easton and the Rethink Management Group to move towards a model of a regional semi-professional development-focused league,” said CSA president Victor Montagliani in a release. “We remain committed to this vision moving forward.”

The CSA has said it will make no other comment on the ruling.
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2

Take that, CSA: CSL announces 12-team first division, vows to kick off season May 3

By
Steven Sandor
– 04/15/2013

CSL-LOGO-e1305318993800-150x138The Canadian Soccer League has announced its plans to kick off first- and second-division play on May 3.

The league, which found out earlier this year that it was no longer being sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association, has taken its case to the dispute resolution body for sports in this country. The CSL stated in a release issued on Monday that a decision is expected by April 21.

The CSL continues to operate its outreach campaign by going from press release to press release, but isn’t addressing independent media questions. But, in today’s announcement, the league said it will have 12 teams in its pro division and 10 teams in the second division for the upcoming year. Since finding out it was no longer sanctioned, the league has taken a damn-the-torpedoes course and has promised to play its schedule. This new release shows the CSL is showing little sign of backing down.

From the CSL: “The new league formation introduces Burlington SC, which brings a team to the CSL from that Ontario community for the first time, while the academy teams of Toronto FC and Montreal Impact have moved the competition side of their player development programs elsewhere — TFC Academy will play in Ontario, while the Montreal Impact Academy will play in the United States.
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Canada confirms May 28 friendly in Edmonton: Kickoff time, ACC conflicts are issues

By
Steven Sandor
– 04/03/2013

29008-e1349905961919-300x15111The worst-kept secret in domestic soccer was confirmed Tuesday, when the Canadian Soccer Association announced that it has booked a friendly against Costa Rica for May 28 at Commonwealth Stadium.

This has been on the radar since the middle of March: FIFA posted the match on its international calendar and the Costa Rican federation announced the game officially, then retracted it. The story about an Edmonton game was confirmed on the Costa Rica Football Federation website then was taken down.

The reasons on why this game is important to Edmonton are obvious: Not only has Edmonton City Council been hesitant to green-light millions in dollars worth of renovations to Commonwealth Stadium ahead of the Women’s World Cup, but that same council has also told FC Edmonton it needs to see a surge of soccer support this season if a stadium is to be built for the NASL franchise. Of course, a Canadian men’s national team match that has good support is a very significant carrot for Mayor Stephen Mandel and his council.

But, there are two major issues here. Read the rest of this entry »

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3

Impact U-21s leave the CSL behind

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/28/2013

CSL-LOGO-e1305318993800-150x138The Montreal Impact confirmed Thursday that it has pulled its U21 team out of the embattled Canadian Soccer League.

The CSL is planning to go ahead with its 2013 season but, with the loss of the Impact now official, the league would only be based in Ontario. Earlier this year, the team lost its official sanction as the Canadian Soccer Association looks to build a regional Division-3 model based on the Easton Report’s recommendations. The CSL is looking to fight the CSA’s decision — and is doing anything but going gentle into the goodnight.

The CSL has been in an uphill public-relations battle since a German court revealed that a Croatian match-fixing ring had fixed a 2009 match between Toronto Croatia and the Trois-Rivieres Attak —the Impact’s farm team at the time.
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Herdman still searching for young female players who fit his team’s changing philosophy

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/27/2013

Kadeisha Buchanan

Kadeisha Buchanan

Canadian national women’s team coach John Herdman is trying to introduce a new formation and is attempting to change the DNA of our soccer program from one of counterattack to useful, dangerous possession.

On Wednesday, he named his roster for two upcoming friendlies — April 4 in France and an April 7 rematch of the Cyprus Cup final, which will see Canadians travel to Rotherham to face an English side that beat Big Red 1-0. Each game will give Herdman the chance to assess the work in progress.

The roster Herdman named for the two friendlies features more veterans than each of the previous two tournaments — the Yongchuan Cup and the Cyprus Cup — in which the Canadian women have participated. But defenders Ashley Lawrence, who played for Canada’s U17 and U20 teams in 2012, is on the roster. And Kadeisha Buchanan, who played in this year’s Cyprus Cup at the age of 17, keeps her place.

“Kadeisha Buchanan has grabbed a hold of a shirt and she hasn’t given it back,” said Herdman.

But, despite what he’s seen from Buchanan and Lawrence, Herdman is concerned that there simply aren’t enough Canadian youngsters who will be technically able to keep up with the improving standards of play in the international game. Read the rest of this entry »

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Mistake-prone Canadians gift Belarus two goals in friendly

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/25/2013

20130325_mnt_xi_wwwCanada’s friendly Monday against Belarus in Qatar wasn’t available on any traditional broadcast or streaming media.

So, what can we take from the 2-0 loss to the Belarusians? Well, there was this tasty tweet from the Canada Soccer feed right after the match: “Match saw some more nasty challenges and a near brawl before its conclusion.”

Neither the Canadian Soccer Association nor the Belarus Football Federation mentioned the incidents in their match reports. But highlights, courtesy of the BFF, can be found here.

 

We also know that Belarusian coach Georgy Kondratiev was tossed for arguing an offside call.
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Canada prepares the “building blocks” for World Cup 2026

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/24/2013

fifa-logoA couple of days ago, Canadian Soccer Association General Secretary Peter Montopoli was at Edmonton’s City Hall and was asked about a possible bid for the 2026 World Cup.

Montopoli described the hosting of the 2014 U-20 Women’s World Cup and the 2015 Women’s World Cup as “building blocks” towards a bid for 2026; and, he noted that, in July of 2015, Canada can boast that it’s hosted all the major tournaments except for the biggest one of them all.

Montopoli was in Edmonton for the announcement of the city as the host of the opening ceremonies and first game of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, so he was right to feel bullish.

There’s no doubt that there is a section of FIFA voters who are enamoured with Canada; despite the fact we don’t have the on-field profile of CONCACAF neighbours Mexico and the United States, we offer stability and certainty, without the American bluster that seems to turn so many international voters off (see: IOC vote and Chicago, 2014 Olympics, U.S. World Cup bid, 2022).
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Edmonton and Vancouver the big winners out of Women’s World Cup announcement

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/21/2013
IMG_1064

(L-R) Richard Starke, Stephen Mandel, Peter Montopoli and John Herdman at Edmonton’s City Hall., Thursday.

In 2002, Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium welcomed more than 45,000 fans for the final of the then-named FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship. It still stands as the high-water mark for attendance at a women’s youth match.

Eleven years later, and that achievement still resonates with FIFA. On Thursday, the Organizing Committee for the 2015 Women’s World Cup announced that Commonwealth would host the June 6 opening ceremonies and Canada’s first two group-stage matches. Canada’s third Group A match would be played in Montreal.

The final is set for BC Place in Vancouver. If Canada finishes first in Group A, it will advance to a round of 16 match in Vancouver. If it advances, the quarterfinal will go in Vancouver. If Canada wins that match, it advances to a Canada Day semifinal at Commonwealth and, hopefully, the final, July 5 at B.C. Place.

The third-place game is set for Edmonton. The Alberta capital will host more matches (11) than any other host city.
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Stalteri reflects on a remarkable career

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/20/2013

Paul Stalteri

Paul Stalteri

The most-capped player in the history of the men’s national Canadian soccer program has called time on a glorious career.

Brampton, Ont.’s Paul Stalteri won the league-and-Cup double with Werder Bremen in 2004, and made over 150 appearances for the Bundesliga side. He’s the only Canadian to possess a Bundesliga’s champions’ medal. He made more than 40 appearances for Tottenham and then joined Fulham just in time to help the club make a last-ditch push to escape relegation back in 2008.

Stalteri made 84 senior appearances for Canada. He won the Gold Cup with Canada in 2000. He captained the side on 30 occasions.

After nearly two years of rehabbing from injuries, Stalteri realized it was time to end it. The reason it took so long for him to make the formal announcement was because his body was feeling well after surgery, and he was debating the decision in his mind.

“I just felt really good after a long rehab period.”
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