Saanich Fusion U17 parents call for an appeal following disqualification from championships

Parents of the Saanich Fusion U17 boys soccer team are calling for an appeal after the team, and the opposing team from the Okanagan, were disqualified from the provincial championships. The post Saanich Fusion U17 parents call for an appeal following disqualification from championships appeared first on CHEK .

Parents of the Saanich Fusion U17 boys soccer team are calling for an appeal after the team, and the opposing team from the Okanagan, were disqualified from the provincial championships. On Saturday, July 11, the U17 boys Saanich Fusion and Okanagan FC faced off in a round-robin game, as part of the provincial championships in Nanaimo. The match did not count towards the championships standings.

Both teams had already qualified for the finals, and were set to play each other in Sunday’s championship. The game ended in a 1-1 tie, both goals scored within a minute of each other. The following day, as both teams were preparing for the championships, they were told by BC Soccer they had been disqualified.

“They were crying on the Sunday morning, like it was very difficult to watch them,” said Saanich parent Cathy Cooke. Watch the full story below: Loading the player... Cooke and another parent, Torsten Ely, say the parents and players have not been given a reason for the disqualification. “I received the phone call that they are disqualified on my way up the Malahat, expecting that I would see the game of my son’s life he was hoping and wishing for,” said Ely.

A video posted online appears to show players from both teams giving a lacklustre effort, lightly kicking the ball, with referees in view. It’s garnered online criticism for both teams’ lack of competitive play in a championship series. Ely and Cooke argue both teams were permitted by BC Soccer, the governing body, not to play full out.

“We were told that it was okay’d by BC Soccer for the kids to play as they were and the reason that they were doing that is that they were going to have a tough game against each other the following day,” said Cooke. “Everything was going to be left on the field on that Sunday, and they didn’t want any injuries.” “BC Soccer officials were standing on the roof, observing the game, smiling.

There was a 90-minute game, no one stopped the two teams and said ‘Hey, you are doing something wrong.’ They had halftime. They had so many opportunities to say that they are breaking the rules,” said Ely.

“No one told our boys that they are breaking the rules.” CHEK News asked BC Soccer why both teams were disqualified and if officials gave permission to both teams to play non-competitively, but did not receive a response by deadline. Section 4.2 of the BC Soccer Code of Conduct posted online states 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.”

Okanagan FC admitted in a statement that the game was played in a non-competitive manner, which the club believes “fell short of our standards of professional conduct.” “Okanagan FC unequivocally does not condone the behaviour of our team during the match,” said the club in a post. “We wish to state that Okanagan FC fully accepts the decision rendered by BC Soccer....while we understand the deep disappointment felt by our players and families...we must take responsibility for our actions.”

The parents are calling for due process, and say the decision has affected the mental health of their players. “This was a nationals game. This isn’t something where you could just bounce back.

The kids are also aware that online, there a lot of, for lack of a better term, trolling,” said Cooke. CHEK News has reached out to Saanich Fusion for a response to the suspension and if it intends to appeal, but did not receive a response by deadline. The post Saanich Fusion U17 parents call for an appeal following disqualification from championships appeared first on CHEK .