CSL Goes Solo, Leaves Canada Soccer For SFC

The soccer pyramid in Canada (as in the U.S.) is not well defined. With MLS, NASL and USL all having clubs from all of North America the “pyramid” is more like a geometry drawing. This week has seen another line drawn in that mix: the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) announced its intention to leave Canada Soccer (the governing body of the sport) and join the newly-formed/created Soccer Federation of Canada (SFC).

The CSL has a history, sometimes not so memorable, of corruption in the league. In a September 2012 report by the CBC, the CSL was found to be one of several targets of a worldwide crime syndicate. According to the report, CSL players were offered bribes to manipulate matches. In 2011 there were confessions of match fixing in a German court by people associated with this syndicate.

In September 2013 more allegations of match fixing were brought to light in a report by Declan Hill. A set of high-suspicious matches were happening again!

Now the CSL has gone alone, a founding member of the SFC. There intentions are to form two divisions with a promotion/relegation format. A reserve league would serve as a third division of CSL.

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From http://canadiansoccerleague.com

NEW ERA FOR CANADIAN SOCCER LEAGUE:

Vincent Ursini, chairman of the board and president of the CSL told an enthusiastic meeting of team owners November 18 following agreement to become a founding member of the newly-formed Soccer Federation of Canada with the prospect of a new league structure to more easily accommodate prospective teams and eventually women’s pro soccer: “This begins a new era for the Canadian Soccer League and for semi-professional soccer in Canada and we are excited at the prospect of working within the framework of the SFC, to do our part to strengthen soccer in Canada and provide many players with a higher level opportunity in which to play and further develop – an opportunity they may not otherwise get,” he said.

Applications, together with policies and procedures for the new CSL Second Division will be available as of Monday, December 9, 2013. Interested teams and newly formed groups should contact the CSL for further information at 905 564-2297 (toll free 1 888 216-9913) or email to info@canadiansoccerleague.ca.