News: CSA non reform...Organized cartel to stay in till 2015.

http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=4654

The reform has been promised in 2009 that it would be in 2010,in 2010 that it would be in 2011 and now in 2011 that it needs to wait until 2012...Why?

What is it that the Traficantes of the CSA Board can't leave now?So,Traficante is a good "candidate" for those CSA Board spots right,since he isn't formally on the ASA Board?What a joke.

I don't like the delay and the fact that 3 of those "provincial reps" can still "vote" on the new CSA Board after 2012 at least till 2015...I bet they will try to extend that indefinitely.

How you'd be able to avoid collusion since the other ones will have to come for the same regions is hard to imagine...The old boys network will just divide the jobs and one of them will go to the CSA Board without being formally on the "provincial board"...

This to me amounts to very little in terms of real reforms.

You almost think that these representatives should be appointed by an independent non-judicial body{possibly by Sports Manitoba} that would select the candidates and assure that there is no possible conflict of interest.

Otherwise,this will be just a piece of cake for the "recreational volunteers" to circumvent that and continue with the same ideology and short sighted,conflicted attitudes and opinions.

I think that it is being underestimated what the capacity of these "recreational volunteers" to hang on to the power actually is.They are worst then a chewing gum.

Pretty disappointing although somewhat expected out come of this.Hopes for a "biting" reform were always low.

 

Despite the best efforts of agents of change such as Mr. Smale,Mr. Billings,Reform Alberta Soccer and others,the fall out from today's meeting in Ottawa clearly indicates that no reforms are being seriously considered.

Although this might sound like a bad crime novel,I think it should be considered to have "organized crime" unit of the RCMP investigate the inner workings of this association,called CSA.

I swear there is something fishy about the way CSA is ran by the current Board and the efforts and fights so they,the current CSA Board members,can stay in their positions the longest as possible is extremely disturbing and more then suspicious.

The only reason that these unqualified individuals are clinging to the current system is that somebody has to be profiteering tremendously from it...trips,perks,influence,jobs for relatives etc. and etc...

The USA are much better at breaking up cartels and organized crime and racketeering then Canada,however,I would suggest that even Canada has to be able to deal with blatant abuse of membership such as this.

It is not surprising that Mr. Chan who ended up "representing" Alberta at this meeting ran the whole thing by Traficante and Fleming even made sure to "cc" them on correspondence they told him to write...{see attached letter}

In this letter Chan justifies voting against the Reform proposal 1 and Reform proposal 2 and supporting no Reform right now,as that he was told {by Traficante and Fleming} that the Board would be out "too fast" as to insinuate that these "characters" think that they are indispensable for the soccer system in the Country...LOL...Beyond unbelievable.

I really don't know how else this reform will come about,unless the authorities get involved.

P.S...

Just FYI...I intend to bring this situation of the Governance of MSA/CSA and soccer in general to the attention of the Mayor and Premier in Winnipeg and Manitoba,so they are aware what type of environment truly exists in soccer.I recently sent them a number of suggestions regarding the Stadium being built at U of Manitoba as to ascertain that that facility will meet international standards for FIFA as far as soccer is concerned...They accepted the suggestion very happily.{see attached}

 

http://www.reformalbertasoccer.com/Timeline-2010/change-log/mrchenemailsasamemberstoexplainwhyhevotedagainsttheirwishes

E-mail from Chan link in the site.

 

An Albertan's ...:



Does anyone have the email addresses (home email, work email) of both Scott Chen and Ray Calvin.

I believe that it is time for every fan of soccer in this country to let these two individuals know exactly how pissed off we are over their tyranny. They say for the best of the nation, that is absolute crap and we know it. This was nothing more than for the best interest of Mike Traficante which is why he was added to the email that was sent to the Alberta membership explaining their actions. Why were there no other CSA board members on that email, why only Mike?

You have completely disregarded the democratic process, allowed a corrupt CSA board to continue to ruin soccer in this country for four more years, and allowed Mike Traficante to continue to abuse his power in the country and province. Do either of you two idiots even know that Mike uses his position with the CSA to promise Edmonton players that he will get them tryouts with our national program if they play for Edmonton Ital. Good call keeping this lying piece of crap as part of the management team for making soccer better in this country.

Someone please post their email addresses (not on the ASA site) and then EVERYONE please flood those emails with your dissatisfaction over their behavior. They must be held accountable!

 

How much is Traficante paying ya?...LOL

 

Apparently,it was also Nova Scotia as well as Alberta who opposed the reform package.

 

Let's hope.I have seen it all with these "provincial reps".They make rules up as they go.
The 3rd package was to do nothing package for another year and a half.Who knows what will happend by then.
The reform should have been effective now as they have been promissing it and delaying it since 2009.

 

Best quote of the day...:

"the same set of amateur soccer apparatchiks who have clambered their way up the greasy pole through the first two tiers of soccer associations will still have a major say over who sits on the BoD even after 2015 "...

Otherwise I am very disappointed that even Mr. Smale "voted" for this,when he said he would never do that prior to the meeting...

 

That is a hope,however,time in soccer runs fast and delying reforms for year affects the entire program for generations.

 

Minor soccer soap opera continues​

Special general meeting may not resolve problems​

By Dan Barnes, Edmonton Journal January 17, 2011 Comments (29)​

​

Four Alberta Soccer Association officials face discipline in their dispute with the Canadian Soccer Association.​

Photograph by: Ed Kaiser, edmontonjournal.com​

It took most of a year, well over half a million dollars in legal fees, and a judge's order to give Alberta Soccer Association members an opportunity to end a power struggle at the board level that has crippled and embarrassed the organization.
But, of course, even now it's not that simple.
At a special general meeting (SGM) called for Friday in Edmonton, representatives from most of the province's 23 soccer associations will finally be allowed to vote on motions to throw out seven members of the current board of directors: vice-presidents Mario Charpentier and Jeff DuBerger, past-president Fred Kern, director of finance Colin Innes, and directors-at-large Christine Chater, Robert Hayne and Chris Jossy.
I say most because it is likely that three associations -- Sunny South, Edmonton District and Central Alberta -- will be suspended by the ASA just in time to tip the balance of power in favour of the current board. Wonderful. All three associations signed a petition in support of the SGM. All three associations are guaranteed to vote in favour of removing the current board.
But representatives of those associations were called on the carpet Saturday by an ASA disciplinary committee and face suspension for launching legal action against the current board.
If those three associations are silenced, and that's the best guess, their votes won't be allowed and the current board may well survive Friday's votes by the skin of their teeth. Lovely.
If the associations somehow escape suspension and all seven resolutions to remove current board members are passed, the board would be comprised of newly appointed directors Ray Calvin and Scott Chen, as well as president Chris Billings and director Danny Bowie, both of whom were suspended by the current board. Calvin and Chen, who were appointed by and support the current board, would likely have the power to appoint more board members sympathetic to their cause. And it's hard to say what would happen to Billings and Bowie in that case, though reinstatement is highly unlikely.
If the three associations are suspended and the current board members survive the vote, the membership will have been denied a fair and honest hearing.
Either way, not much will change for this embattled and dysfunctional association. The two sides are firmly entrenched and diametrically opposed and many of their beefs with one another date back decades, to other fights and other instances of justice denied.
The best course of action may well be to wind up the ASA, an option that has been proposed and considered by Court of Queen's Bench Justice William Tilleman, who ordered the special general meeting.
The ASA in its current incarnation is dysfunctional. It may well remain that way after Friday's vote.
It's a mess, all right, and it could have been cleaned up ages ago. The current board members should have done the right thing and resigned long ago, as per the wishes of a membership which first tossed them out at an April 24 SGM. Sadly, that meeting was voided by Justice Tilleman on a technicality, but the intent of the membership was obvious then and remains obvious now. They served up an overwhelming vote of non-confidence in the current board. ​

But the desires of the membership have been ignored by the current board throughout this process and that sad fact was reflected in an affidavit attached to the second petition requesting the upcoming SGM.
It did not dwell on procedure or bylaws. It did not spell out the laundry list of valid reasons for dismissing the current board members. Instead, it captured perfectly the much bigger picture when it said that the seven directors named in the motions for dismissal "have failed to manage the affairs of soccer in Alberta in such a way as to maintain a positive working relationship with its members. The members no longer have confidence that the current board will be able to move Alberta soccer out of its current morass."
That's obvious. Rather than face the will of the membership head on long ago, they have hidden behind the bylaws that suit them and ignored others that don't further their aims. They have suspended other board members, withheld provincial medals and trophies from deserving children, cleaned out the ASA office of employees who opposed their outlandish tactics, and filled the vacancies with friends.
"Whatever else the Board of Directors has done over the past year, it appears not to have taught the soccer players the principles of co-operation and respect for each other," Justice Tilleman wrote in his Dec. 31 decision that ordered the special general meeting.
Amen to that.
dbarnes@edmontonjournal.com
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal​

Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/spor...ra+continues/4119024/story.html#ixzz1BRNKFPHs​

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----- Original Message ----- From: Miro Kliment
To: mirokliment@shaw.ca
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2011 9:53 PM
Subject: Canadian Soccer Association Ushers in New Era with Revised Governance Framework...Part 5...Example of how "provincial reps" operate...!!!

Here is an example of what the "provincial reps" spend their time on...I have seen this all the way from "elections" in local "mickey-mouse" recreational associations and up all the way to the "provincial" charade of "elections"...​

Mr. Smale,the Ontario Soccer Association President recently went public in wanting to see that this doesn't stand in the way of progress in Canadian soccer...​

The fact that some CSA operatives interfered in the Alberta's dispute to support the "old boys network" is another example that these "hop-knobbers" have no place on CSA's Board...​

If you want an answer why Canada,one of the richest and most industrialized countries remains a minnow and an absolute joke in International Men's soccer and professional soccer,here you have the answer...​

In Men's soccer,because of the nature of the competitiveness and the many highest levels of the game in international field,if things aren't done like clock-work 24/7,365 days a year for the boys,they stale and can not raise to what their potentials are...​

If you have an association {s} spending time on fights around their little petty "elections" and power grabbing,the boys suffer in the meantime. Every day wasted for the boys is a week lost on a European professionally developed player...The gap becomes so huge so quickly after the ages of 14/15 and on,that CSA is just spinning their wheels,because of the CSA Board being populated by these "provincial reps"...​

{women's soccer is considered amateur,so it isn't being affected by this as much,women's soccer is a completely different universe and has nothing to do with Men's teams and professional soccer,so all this unprofessionalism isn't affecting them in the same way}​

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Dispute endangers fair soccer elections​

Factions manouver ahead of meeting​

By Dan Barnes, Edmonton Journal December 6, 2010 Comments (32)​

• <LI class=story_tab>Story
• Photos ( 1 )

​

Four Alberta Soccer Association officials face discipline in their dispute with the Canadian Soccer Association.​

Photograph by: Ed Kaiser, edmontonjournal.com​

EDMONTON - Common sense will probably take a kick in the shins today when the Canadian Soccer Association argues in favour of suspending four Alberta officials.
Their heinous crime?
They chose to force a court-ordered resolution to the costly, embarrassing board battle that split the Alberta Soccer Association in two warring halves, one of which spent its time and ASA money firing and suspending six ASA employees, unjustly declaring eight soccer districts in bad standing, posting security guards on the ASA office door, suspending a rival ASA board member and withholding outdoor provincial medals and trophies from children.
The four officials who face a maximum two-year suspension from all soccer activities -- Les Hodges, Shauna Aab, Mike Troke and Danny Bowie -- did not actually partake in any of that outlandish behaviour. Rather, they tried to ensure the ASA operated properly despite all of it. But they're on the carpet this afternoon in a Leduc hotel, forced to have a lawyer defend them to a three-person disciplinary committee because CSA bylaws prohibit legal action, as if soccer is somehow above the law of the land.
"If we hadn't taken court action, the association wouldn't have been able to run," reasoned Hodges.
"It could go either way. I think they'll probably suspend us but the biggest problem isn't the CSA. If they decide not to suspend us, the ASA can easily come in and say you're suspended."
That has already happened to Bowie.
He was in the unique position of being a member of both warring factions, though he acted only with the so-called Chris Billings board, the one that initiated court action. On Nov. 26, Bowie was suspended indefinitely and without the hearing required under ASA bylaws by the so-called Mario Charpentier board, which had been returned to power Nov. 17 by order of Justice William Tilleman.
It was Tilleman's contention that the board comprised of Aab, Bowie, Hodges, Troke and Billings was not duly elected because the meeting at which the vote occurred did not achieve quorum.
The board approved by Tilleman was comprised of Charpentier, Colin Innes, Fred Kern, Chris Jossy, Christine Chater, Jeff DuBerger, Bowie and Robert Hayne.
Following the suspension of Bowie, two new members were appointed, Ray Calvin and Scott Chen. Both were supporters of the Charpentier board throughout the lengthy battle.
"I cannot be on the board and I cannot coach my kids. I'm not going to sit back and let that happen," said Bowie, who said he will appeal his ASA suspension but expects it to take a year.
"I guarantee I won't be able to participate at the AGM. This is all organized to ensure I don't show up."
In addition to suspending Bowie as their first order of business at their first meeting, the Charpentier board has fired three ASA employees (two of them for the second time in the past few months), fired a provincial team coach and hired former Edmonton Minor Soccer Association officials as ASA employees. Charpentier is also president of EMSA. He did not respond to an Edmonton Journal request for an explanation of his board's most recent actions.
The employees who were fired for a second time by the Charpentier board, Joel Butler and Margaret Dunlop, had been reinstalled by order of Justice Tilleman Aug. 25. I wonder if Tilleman would view firing them again judicious behaviour, since synonyms for judicious include prudent and sound.
Certainly the actions of Charpentier et al at the board level seem more political, aimed at ensuring they face little or no opposition at the ASA Annual General Meeting in January. This is a salient point given the way Tilleman concluded his judgment.
"In view of the brief period of time between the date of this judgement (sic) and the next Annual General Meeting, I would hope and indeed expect that the Board will conduct itself judiciously, mindful of the fractured state of the Association and sensitive to the antipathies that the proceedings have provoked amongst it's (sic) 80,000 members that deserve better. In the event that difficulties arise out of the calling of the next Annual General Meeting, or the conduct of the ASA in this interim period, or should the January 10, 2010 Board wish me to rule on the ASA being wound-up immediately, the parties are directed to bring the matter back to me."
Somebody should be calling Justice Tilleman today. Get the man on the phone in his Calgary chambers and sound the alarm before it's way too late and the election of officers at the AGM proceeds unfairly. The year-long civil war has already cost hundreds of thousands of dollars but the real toll will be taken on transparency, leadership, accountability, fairness and decency if reasonable people like Aab, Troke, Bowie, Hodges and Billings are not allowed to run for office at the AGM.
There is also a chance that three districts, all sympathetic to the Billings board, will face suspension since they too launched legal action aimed at resolving the board dispute. Those districts are Sunny South, Central Alberta and Edmonton District.
Billings is considered suspended by the current ASA board. In fact, that suspension attempt triggered the board battle. He still refuses to acknowledge the validity of the suspension and has therefore chosen not to appeal it. I have seen the list of nine alleged offences on which the suspension is based and they are laughable. Justice Tilleman refused to rule on the suspension, saying it was an internal ASA matter.​

Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/busi...er+elections/3932336/story.html#ixzz1BAIIUvI4​

​

----- Original Message ----- From: Miro Kliment
To: mirokliment@shaw.ca
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2011 7:15 PM
Subject: Canadian Soccer Association Ushers in New Era with Revised Governance Framework...Part 4...Water down "reforms"...???








An interesting article recently appeared in the Canadian Soccer news and other media regarding the CSA' progress on promised reforms.

OSA President Ron Smale speaks very clearly about the frustration of the reform to revamp their Board and move the Provincial reps into a non-board role.

Apparently,the infamous Alberta Soccer Association is stalling the progress as much as the old boys' network is still semi-quasi in place there.

Mr. Smale is definitely speaking the truth and unless the CSA reform won't be finished the way it was agreed on in May/2010,it will be just another dragged out exercise in futile effort to restructure the CSA's Board.

Mr. Smale knows that he'd be affected by those changes as well,however,as a true volunteer,he is looking passed that and isn't going to destroy progress because of his own personal/regional interests.

The interview below is very revealing and the comments from readers are also interesting,especially as they relate to Mike Trafficante{current/former board member} and ASA.You can make a comment by clicking on the "comments" link below.

Mr. Smale admits that he finds it very hard/impossible to separate the good of the game and progress on national bases from regional petty "apparatchik's" games,when the Provincial reps are under so much "local" pressure that is mainly petty and shortsighted driven by local recreational soccer associations who have no clue where soccer needs to get,before Canada will have an international respectability .

I hope that this reform as agreed and proposed in may 2010 will be implemented and that soccer in Canada will get passed the local,petty politicks,needless fights,many entities pulling in different directions etc...

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Ontario speaks



by Ben Knight
Published on 01-12-2011 01:00 AM
31 Comments





Author’s note: Ron Smale is the president of the Ontario Soccer Association – a man who fervently believes he and all provincial and territorial soccer association presidents should immediately be removed from the board of directors of the Canadian Soccer Association.

This being Canadian soccer, of course, that now makes him the only provincial or territorial soccer association president currently opposing the amended, watered-down version of reform now being considered.

And he’s not about to change his mind.

(And how’s this for on the record? The OSA filmed our entire interview, and put it on their website.)

Here, then, is one frank and informative discussion about the future of Canadian soccer:

---

Last year, the CSA Constitution Committee shocked everybody by coming up with a very sweeping reform package that, among other things, removes provincial presidents from the CSA board of directors, and cranks up the qualifications for those that remain. Ontario, I believe, supported this?

Correct, Ben. Yes.

Since then, recently, we found out (and it took some digging to find out) that the formula has been tinkered with, so that there are now seats for three provincial presidents. Alberta and Quebec, who opposed this before, are now in favour of it – and Ontario is against it.

That’s correct. We’re maintaining the position that was originally presented back in the May AGM of 2010, that no provincial presidents should be sitting on the board of directors of the CSA, and that it’s time to make this reform, and move forward to move the game of soccer in Canada in a very strong direction – whereby, in our perspective, the best people in soccer will be governing the game at the national level.

Don’t you feel – as much as I completely agree with that sentiment – that might weaken Ontario’s position in the overall structure of Canadian soccer and the way it’s governed, by not having yourself (or whoever has your job) on the board?

I don’t believe it will weaken our position at all. I don’t think it weakens the nation at all. If anything, it strengthens the nation. From my perspective, there is a component of the new structure – which we motioned for and was approved in May – called the Membership Forum. And in that forum, there is representation from all the provinces. They will meet twice a year with the new CSA board – with six elected and six appointed members and the president – and any domestic issues that happen to be within the provinces will obviously be conveyed up. I mean, at the end of the day, if you’re not happy with the people who are operating an association, there’s a democratic process to go through to change people, change the rule, change the structure. We’re very confident that the structure that was proposed is the best for the game of soccer.

The other argument that is made is because the Canadian Soccer Association is funded almost entirely by player-registration fees, the provincial presidents should be on the board to have a say in how those fees are spent.

Again, I don’t agree. From my perspective, we as a provincial body need to be doing our best to support our national athletes. I’m talking about athletes who are dedicating four and five days a week to showcase our country across the international market, across the international venue. As such, I firmly believe, and I have full confidence that the thirteen persons that are elected to this board would do a very, very good job. And I know, as a president of the Ontario Soccer Association and anyone who follows after me will have a voice. You go into these things with trust. You go into these things with confidence. And I have no concerns whatsoever, and my board and membership supports me in this role.

Now, as the horribly convoluted situation in Alberta evolves, and the links between it and the Canadian Soccer Association become plain, the urgency for reform becomes that much clearer. But the argument that I do sometimes hear is that – even in this compromised form – still going from twelve provincial presidents to three … wouldn’t that be an acceptable compromise?

Not from my perspective. We believe there needs to be a complete separation of the provincial component from the national component. I would be concerned that maybe the three individuals involved – the three provincial bodies, whichever those bodies are – may get stuck in the process of what I’ll call good governance, good decision making. The other comment I’ll make is that the current model is a policy board model – which is very, very important to us – where operations is managed by staff, and policy, strategic planning and finance is managed by the board. I would want to see this clarity maintained. And I’ll also say that as a provincial president, in the short term that I have been connected with the board of the CSA and the OSA, as a servant to the game of soccer, I can only serve one master. I cannot serve two. And when I sit at the CSA board level, I need to be looking at the game from a national perspective. Some presidents will tell you they can do both. I don’t believe that’s possible. There needs to be a separation, but at the same time, there needs to be good links of communication between the provincial associations and the national body.

Now I know that we Canadians, we’re very polite and we don’t like to discuss each other’s business, and what happens over there is not what happens over here. But the situation in Alberta, which, briefly: You have a pro-reform president in Chris Billings who is suddenly – and very conveniently from the anti-reform point of view – removed from office by his first vice-president, Mario Charpentier, with – minimum! – help from Mike Traficante, the director-at-large at the CSA, and I’m told other CSA people are involved but I haven’t had them all identified yet … Can you tell me, from your perspective and your belief in the game and your experience – what the heck is going on in Alberta, as far as you can tell?

Well, Alberta obviously is going through some difficult times. I am not here, nor am I prepared, to speak to that issue. I would respect that if I was in a situation here in the province of Ontario, and we were going through some type of issue with respect to how we’re governed or how we’re structured, that people would have the courtesy and respect to allow us to deal with that. My position is I am going to not comment on the situation in Alberta. Alberta will work its issues out with its membership. It will work its issues out with those who feel they can lead the association forward. And, again, I go back to the comment that we in Ontario will stay in the position that we are with respect to reform, and move forward that way.

We’re left in the intriguing situation that, because of the knock-on effects of the Alberta mess, you as a pro-reform president in Ontario are now – near as I can tell – the only provincial president who is currently against the reform package as it stands at the moment. THAT must concern you.

It does concern me, and my comment to that situation is that I believe we [the full CSA board] will be meeting February 4, 5 and 6. There will be a board meeting on the Friday evening, and we’ll be into the Special General Meeting on Saturday. And there is more opportunity for us, as presidents, to discuss this whole issue of a compromise model that was presented back in the month of October. I’m hopeful that people will really look at what we proposed and what was approved. I’ve heard the comments that there’s been external pressure put on some groups or associations and/or presidents, and I’m hoping that all the presidents from across the country will start thinking of the athletes. That’s where our focus should be. It should always be on the athletes, and making the best decisions for the athletes. And I’m not saying that presidents like myself are not good people. We are. But you need the separation, whereby there are no conflicts of interest; there are no issues that I need to be concerned about when I’m making a vote or I’m approving something or I’m disapproving something at the national level, because I fear it’s going to have a negative impact on my provincial association. I need to be able to work at that level, and be able to make those decisions knowing I’m doing this for every single athlete, from the east coast to the west coast to the north.

And I absolutely agree that is where the focus ought to be. But if you and the other presidents find yourself talking about a situation where at least one – and maybe more – high-ranking directors of the CSA have directly intervened in a provincial organization, deposed a president, and recalibrated an entire board’s political standing to try to oppose a reform you support? Again, absolutely! I’m with the players! But this is in the way.

I understand. And as I said, I’m confident that people will reflect. I’m confident people will come to the table knowing the decision they make is critical to the growth of the game of soccer in Canada. And, personally, I can’t do anything with respect to changing a person’s mind, other than saying “Look, these are the pros and these are the cons that I see in the two models. In the compromise model – I’ll use that term – which was the one that was proposed moving forward, again you still have that provincial presidential impact. And that needs to be removed. As such, we’re going to hold firm. I’ll be in discussions with my peer group at the CSA level, and we’ll see where it all falls out at the end of the day. If people at the end of the day decide they’re going to support the [compromise] reform, then they’ll support the reform. And at the end of the day, as a provincial body and a provincial association, we’ll have to respect that. That’s the bottom line. We’re going to respect. We’re not here to submarine; we’re not here to throw up a huge barrier. We’re here to provide our input, and provide our best knowledge and our best issues going forward. To the provincial presidents across the country, I want to say: Look at Canada’s golf association. Look at our Rugby association. Look at the skating association. All those groups have moved in the last two to three years with changing their governance structure. And those structures do not include representation from individual provinces. Their governance structure is people who are dedicated to the national vision, the national strategy moving forward. We’re communicating with our groups; I’m communicating with presidents across the country. We’re still having what I would call honest, candid discussions. I’m looking forward to this February meeting because, as I’ve said – and I think they understand and they believe – this is a watershed moment for the game of soccer. Soccer, we’ve had our struggles, and I’ve heard lots of finger-pointing and I’ve seen lots of people making jabs at individuals personally who are in associations and/or the CSA or whatever the case may be, and I would like us to really get together as a group, and say to ourselves “This is the best way to go.” And I’m confident that we’ll get there.

How important is governance reform at the CSA level to our men’s national soccer team ever qualifying for the FIFA World Cup?

I think it’s critical. Under the new model that we motioned for and was approved at the May AGM of 2010, that model is basically twelve of the finest people in Canada, who can take the game and move it forward – with no strings attached: west-coast issues, east-coast issues, central Canadian issues. And I think it’s critical to our development, what we’re going to need in the next eight-to-ten years, to put into place, put into gear all those resources that we require. We’re going to need all those resources and dollars that are required to finance and promote national-team play. So from my perspective – it’s critical! And you may ask me the question “Well, what do you think will happen if, in fact, it doesn’t go through?” Well, I’ll be there to do what I can as a representative of the province of Ontario, but more as a national rep to say “Okay, what are we doing moving forward?”

Ron, thanks very much. That’s great.

All right. Thank you.

(Onward!)

----- Original Message ----- From: Miro Kliment
To: mirokliment@shaw.ca
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 9:06 PM
Subject: Canadian Soccer Association Ushers in New Era with Revised Governance Framework...Part 3...Reality of CSA's Men's programs.



Besides the problems that arose several weeks ago in Alberta as far as the "governance" is concerned...{the same ugly heads rear themselves in another CSA's department}

There is another reason to be concerned as far as our U-20 Men's program is involved in "preparations" for the U-20 WC next year,which at this point is a mute point...

The CSA appeared{on paper} to be serious about the U-20 program to go out and give the players in the U-20 pool a chance to do well in 2 fairly expensive camps in Europe recently.

One in Holland and another one in Spain.

Most are aware of the poor level of play and inability to compete at these tournaments even vs. the most minnows one can choose to play for,however,that didn't "warrant" using different players throughout these events and CSA continued playing the same line ups as the games went from bad to worse.

In 12 games they only won one game played for 90 minutes vs. a Dutch Men's team ,the Stormvogels 3:2 and one 40 minute game vs. a Dutch U-19 Club in the 10th spot "placement" game 2:0...In Spain a loss and 2 lucky ties...Irrespective what CSA reports say about the games that were tied ,one vs. Equatorial Guinea,the impartial local report give no good reviews to Canada.

The U-20 program ended up 9th out of 10 in Holland losing most games and did the same in Spain,while almost losing to Equatorial Guinea at the end. The Final was 1:1,however,Spanish translated reports said that E. Guinea was a better team etc...E. Guinea is ranked 145th in the World by FIFA.

I attribute the results and the level of play to almost "dogmatic" CSA's policy to "advance" and "play" players who are residing in Canadian Academies or attend Universities or staying in local clubs,even though Canada doesn't have the infrastructure to develop these players on a high enough level.

The coaching staff must have been instructed by CSA and the Technical Committee to ignore,marginalize and give no or very little exposure to several players at these tournaments for no other then the above reasons.A couple of them are probably the farthest in their qualification and advance to be playing in this.

The CSA's mantra on this is that the "coach" made those decisions.

There were actually several players who accepted an invitation to these camps who saw either a disproportionate or in some cases no playing time at all,however,flew there thinking that they actually can contribute something.Looking at the end results,it is beyond obvious that the results could have been better running the program properly.

The part of the mantra was that the "results" don't matter,which in logical conclusion makes this travesty more of a "crime",the same.If you don't care about results,then you play the players there even the more.

I believe that these 2 trips have turned out to be a tremendous waste of CSA's money,the coaches are no further ahead then they were before this happened and had they "planned" to do this they could have just done this in Toronto at fraction of the costs and international embarrassment.

Our U-20 team couldn't beat U-19 club teams with rosters full of younger players and their all around performance was very mediocre.In some cases the local media referred to them as a "very weak Canadian national team",however the "coach" would play the same players over and over again as if he were completely and purposely ignorant to what was going on.

Although,the staff there and CSA tried to manipulate the roster in a way that it would be confusing to an average observer to notice a pattern,well,some people actually understand what was going...

Carrying the CSA's mantra to its end,somehow,these same players will turn around and become "winners" vs. full National Squads few months from now...I have a news for you,if you can't beat a U-19 Club Team with 92's and 93's on roster or an outfit such as Equatorial Guinea,you won't beat Mexico,Costa Rica,USA,Jamaica or even Trinidad...

If anyone wonders why players many times turn Canadian requests down to come and play for it,it is beyond obvious why...They must have been through the same "washing machine" as well...

The CSA's program is faulty straight from the grass roots throughout RTC/NTC and all of that permeates into the National squads.

In the latest example in Spain there was a player invited from England to attend this and played zero minutes in 3 bad games,another one from mainland Europe played 1 minute in one game and few who as well didn't play or played disproportionately little.

Basically,these "camps" were organized as a "circus" while the Coaches already were told and had the players picked for the "final team" even before the players arrived.

It's disrespectful and fraudulent and corruptive towards the players abilities and time and just another example how CSA operates.

I wonder what "feedback" and "reports" will come back on reports who have had no chance to play???Or played 1 minute???

The Canadian arrogance of thinking that actually what is going on inside Canada is acceptable for international Men's soccer is absolutely not true and short of possibly 5 players,including a couple of the ones who were discriminated against,possibly could play at that level...The other ones are used to playing children's soccer at a low amateur level and will not qualify Canada to the WC...But they played all the time.

If anyone wonders why Canada is ranked 101st in mens' soccer,then remember this. I am not making this up.

I could get more specific,however,even without naming names,everyone who has some knowledge of CSA will connect the dots and see the tentacles.

Very disappointed.


----- Original Message ----- From: Miro Kliment
To: mirokliment@shaw.ca
Cc: mini@soccercan.ca
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 7:52 PM
Subject: Canadian Soccer Association Ushers in New Era with Revised Governance Framework...Part 2.



A very worrisome article came as a follow up on the CSA's AGM in Winnipeg,recently.

It reveals that the "provincial reps",for lack of descriptive terms,once again rejected a per registered player small increase in funding formula for the CSA and the National Programs that is desperately needed..

In a relatively well off jurisdiction such as Canada,we can't find an extra Lonnie,per registered player,to support that endeavor to qualify for World Cup.

That is just an evidence of sabotage,willful bad faith bargaining and acting against the best interest of Canadian soccer.

Those individuals should be ashamed themselves.

In light of all the,possibly,billions, wasted funds per player frivolously expanded on "creating adult usurped environment for the kids" by the rec. soccer industry,that at the end drives the vast majority of kids away from the game by the time they are 15 years old,to say that they refuse to "give up" a Lonnie a year to support the National Programs in order to advance on the international scene is as pathetic as the crowd involved.

I know very well how much is wasted in the system and how easy it would be to add another 2 dollars a year to the registrations just by acting more responsible and respectful towards the participants funds and money.

We know that the whole "lie" about how many "registered players" there are in Canada is just that and that possibly a fraction should really be considered a registered players population,however,since everybody perpetuates these myths and lies,amongst many others,in soccer in Canada,then CSA will have to find additional streams of revenues.

Every truly "registered player" would not even think for a second to support the CSA program by giving them a Lonnie extra every year.

I suggested long time ago that we should have {as in USA} the ability to make donations to specific causes straight via income tax returns,where Canadians,wishing to support soccer,could donate small or big amounts of money as a donation via this kind of vehicle.There should also be a marketing strategy to solicit donations of estates/bequests and money from wealthy individuals etc...

Very sad to read this in this day and age and if these fundamentals aren't discussed in public and dealt with,these matters will be still an obstacle 20 years from now with no resolution and progress.

Miro.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Getting Canada back to the World Cup

• June 3, 2010 1:18 PM | Comments6Recommend23
• By Teddy Katz

If Canada is going to qualify for another World Cup, it's going to need to do something radical like the Own the Podium program from the Olympics.
But it won't be easy.
CBC has learned that recent attempts by the Canadian Soccer Association to bring in more money so its national teams can compete with the top nations of the world has fallen on deaf ears.
First, some context. And who better to go to for that than a guy in the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame, Bob Lenarduzzi. The former long-time player and national team coach is now the president of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Lenarduzzi says the Vancouver Olympics offered a good roadmap for soccer. Canada set a lofty goal to win the most medals - and then devised a detailed plan and came up with the money to make it happen.
"[Canada's] a developed country in terms of the economics much more so than African or Central American countries. But as far as soccer goes - we're a third world country and we need to try to change that."
The president of theCanadian Soccer Association Dominic Maestracci agrees that things need to change.
Maestracci says Canada should be no worse than third best in this region behind the United States and Mexico.
"Canada must be before Honduras (third), Costa Rica (fourth). I think you must be before them. I think this is not ambitious. This is where Canada must be."
Internal tug of war
Two years ago, the association developed a strategic plan with a goal of having the Canadian men's team qualify for the 2014 World Cup and for its women's team earn an Olympic or World Cup medal.
But for that to happen, Maestracci says he has to up the budget from $14 to $25 million.
A couple of weeks ago he tried to take the first step to raising more money.
Maestracci took his master plan to the provincial and territorial leaders who help run soccer and they said no.
"We're exactly doing that. We did a plan ... but they refuse to give us the money."
What Maestracci was looking for was a $2 increase from the fees paid by each of the 800,000 registered players (right now, $8 from each player goes to the CSA).
The extra money would ensure the national teams play 10 games a year. And Maestracci aims for matches against top teams like its recent game against soccer power Argentina.
With the U.S. playing more than 40 matches last year, Maestracci says 10 games is the minimum Canada needs to improve.
But he says it's a problem trying to get everybody on the same page.
"I know in Quebec, some districts on the competitive level are asking $2,000 for players to register. But they are not willing to give $1 or $2 to the national team. This is the main problem."
Maestracci is hopeful that can change next year. At that same annual general meeting, the CSA agreed to a proposed change to its board for next year that would reduce the powers of the provincial and territorial leaders.
Bob Lenarduzzi says territorialism continues to hold Canadian soccer back.
"Everybody has their own reason for perhaps wanting to hold little Johnny back because Johnny will allow that team to win a championship. When more than likely, little Johnny would be better moving up and being pushed and developing further as a player. But it's not going to be shed by the people in the game because they like their little kingdoms."
He thinks Canada can look to our neighbours to the south to change that.
Back in the day
In 1986, Lenarduzzi played on the one and only Canadian team to qualify for the World Cup.
At that time, ironically, this country's national team was regularly beating the U.S.
Now that seems like the good old days.
At the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, the U.S. bowed out early at home while Canada played in the quarter-finals against Brazil.
In 1988, the two countries soccer paths went in opposite directions when the U.S. beat Canada out for a spot in the Seoul Olympics.
"That was the turning point for both programs," Lenarduzzi says. "We never qualified for the Olympics or World Cup since and they have qualified for every World Cup since 1990."
American growth surges
The U.S. program got a huge shot in the arm when it hosted the World Cup in 1994.
It left millions of dollars as a legacy and spawned Major League Soccer, a new domestic league.
Shortly after that came another important development.
Called Project 2010, U.S. soccer designed a blueprint - a plan aimed to make that country a legitimate contender at this year's World Cup.
At the time, that was probably enough to make some soccer observers laugh.
But U.S. soccer put their money where their mouth was.
All the different stakeholders bought into the idea and millions of dollars was poured into developing players.
They brought the top talent together as teenagers. They lived and trained together and developed into the next generation of stars for the national team.
Lenarduzzi says it's exactly the kind of thing this country needs to do.
"Canada has not done anything. How can we establish a plan much like the Americans have that essentially blows up the current system?" Lenarduzzi asks.
"Quite frankly that's what we need to do. Stop. Establish a plan. That's what Americans did and the success they are having is in large part due to that."
Now the Americans are fighting world powers hoping to gain a spot in the second round of the World Cup in South Africa, while Canada will watch from the sidelines, battling internal politics and holding onto a dream of one day playing again on the world's biggest stage.

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  kevjmo wrote:Posted 2010/06/03
  
  at 7:21 PM ETIt would help if we didn't lose the talent that was born and raised in Canada. It becomes hard to win when you lose players with the quality of Owen Hargreaves or Jonathan de Guzman to England and Holland respectively. We can start by bringing in Blackburn's David Hoilett before he goes and plays for Jamaica.
  
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  Laur52 wrote:Posted 2010/06/03
  
  at 5:51 PM ETHard to know what English.beat is actually saying, but aside from the anti-Lenarduzzi diatribe, it seems to be the same as what Bobby L is saying. The impression given confirms the splintered nature of Canadian soccer for sure. There are probably 3 or 4 recreational hockey players for every registered one, so get real, hockey really is Canada's game, not soccer. Nonetheless, the numbers at the minor and competitive level are such that we should be more competitive, and parochial pettiness is surely to blame. And sadly, it does not seem likely to change very soon. It may take the Canadian MLS teams to set up some kind of system, if they can agree to fend for the coommon good. Fat chance.
  
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  English.beat wrote:Posted 2010/06/03
  at 4:22 PM ETAs many people know in Vancouver Bob Lenarduzzi and the brothers are sinkhole with the water running so fast into it, that Canada will never have a team at the World Cup. All their concerns are going with norm and allowing the legacy of the "one and only time" that Canada has been to the World Cup. Bob Lenarduzzi is a smooth talker and only keeping focus on his family in the game as long he is at the helm of the Whitecaps. He is the modern day Bobby Clarke for soccer in Canada as in keeping the dream like Broad Street Bullies alive and keeping his friends in the party moods forever.
  No one wants take the lead and fail. it will look bad and sad. I have watched the best teams in the world for decades. I have seen what the Canada is making excuses before attempting to do anything positive, ground-breaking and creating a foundation for youth players to develop as strong leaders in the game. Do not ever look at watch the USA for developing the game, for instance DC United recruiting player paying for their education and promoting them to Europe. Look inside at BCHL or the baseballl league in BC who are having a massive influence on the leagues they representative.
  
  Good luck in getting the rid of the stigma and raising funds and not talent in your goal for a World Cup place in year........
  
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  Blkaladdin wrote:Posted 2010/06/03
  
  at 4:12 PM ETComparing anything Canadian (especially pouring money into a sports league) is like comparing the size of Jupiter to Earth), come on really? When has Canada EVER really tried to a league (except Hockey-& that's only N. America) press onto the worlds stage. Will not happen
  
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  soccerrules wrote:Posted 2010/06/03
  at 4:00 PM ETCan't believe that the Provincial no goodnicks didn't approve the 2$ increase to go to CSA???
  
  Out of all the millions being wasted in perpetuity on the rec. soccer for frivilous crap.{apparel,trips etc...}
  
  
  Unreal!!!
  
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----- Original Message ----- From: Miro Kliment
To: mini@soccercan.ca
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2010 8:19 PM
Subject: CanadaSoccer.com | Canadian Soccer Association Ushers in New Era with Revised Governance Framework



This looks like a continuance of the changes announced several months ago.I agree with them,however,am a little disappointed that it will take yet another full year {which is 2 years in soccer years} in order to implement it.The Board composition should be addressed as a highest priority as we can not have 12 of the same looking at issues.

Definitely,the Provincial Association need to be represented at the CSA's Board ,however,they should not be the only reps. on that Board.

The Board needs to include representatives from professional soccer clubs,national teams soccer and voices that counter the regional narrow recreational "sheik-doms" of interests.

1...As a practical step to improve those voices being heard and to assure that they act in the best interest of developing the "pyramid" of soccer,CSA should have its own office and direct paid staff in every Province,in order to ascertain that the regional narrow and many time petty and selfish interests aren't standing in the way of developing players properly in many regions of the Country.

2...That staff would co-operate with the Provincial Technical Directors{who should be on CSA's direct staff as well}

That will assure that the local "plumbers of the game" will be on notice that they can not get away with the same stuff,they were permitted to commit until now.Coincidentally,this AGM is held in Manitoba,who historically caused many of the "bad faith" issues to arise...I have a full hard drive of that.

I am sure that the Provincial Reps. will be glued to Rogers Sportsnet tonight to watch TFC playing LA Galaxy at 9.30 Central.So,welcome to Manitoba.

I am willing to look forward and always look at another start for everything,however,many of us{parents/coaches/fans/players} have a loong "institutional" memory of what used to happen and we will watch very closely,in order to make sure that changes are practically implemented as soon as possible.

Miro.

----- Original Message ----- From: CanadaSoccer.com
To: Miro Kliment
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2010 7:17 PM
Subject: CanadaSoccer.com | Canadian Soccer Association Ushers in New Era with Revised Governance Framework



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Canadian Soccer Association • l’Association canadienne de soccer
Media Release • Communiqué

For Immediate Release / Pour diffusion immédiate -

For more information please contact:
Pour toutes autres informations, veuillez contacter :
Richard Scott - 613.237.4580 x237 / 613.818.0305

La version française est ci-dessous

Canadian Soccer Association Ushers in New Era with Revised Governance Framework

The Canadian Soccer Association membership passed a new governance framework today at its Annual General Meeting in Winnipeg. The annual meeting brings together the Association’s membership, featuring delegates from all 12 provincial and territory members, together with the professional clubs, leagues and athlete representation.

This contemporary approach to the governance of soccer in Canada will result in a clear and effective separation between the governing responsibilities of the Board and the day-to-day operational responsibilities of management and staff. This new governance model will address the specific needs and unique requirements of soccer in Canada and provide greater efficiency, accountability and transparency throughout the association.

Canadian Soccer Association President, Dr. Dominic Maestracci, commented that: “Today marks a new beginning for the sport of soccer in this country. The new governance framework will provide the Canadian Soccer Association with the best opportunity to engage its member provincial and territorial associations, districts, clubs and participants across the country in a collective effort to maximize the popularity of the beautiful game in Canada, from participation at the grassroots level through to Canada’s success on the international stage.”

This framework is the continuation of a governance renewal process that has involved a formal review of the governance and management structures and processes by an independent third party, extensive research and review by the Canadian Soccer Association’s Constitution Committee, Board education sessions and a plenary session for all delegates at the Annual General Meeting.

The next steps in the renewal process will involve draft governance policies to be presented to the Board of Directors in Fall 2010. By-law amendments would then be presented at the Canadian Soccer Association Annual General Meeting in May 2011 for formal adoption.

The Canadian Soccer Association, in partnership with its members and all its corporate partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. The Canadian Soccer Association not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but it also encourages Canadians towards a life-long passion for soccer.



L’ACS marque l’arrivée d’une nouvelle ère avec un cadre révisé de gouvernance


Les membres de l’Association canadienne de soccer (ACS) ont adopté un nouveau cadre de gouvernance aujourd’hui à l’occasion de son Assemblée générale annuelle (AGA) à Winnipeg. Cette rencontre réunit les membres de l’Association, notamment les délégués des 12 provinces et territoires membres, ainsi que les clubs professionnels, les ligues et les représentants d’athlètes.

Cette approche contemporaine de gouvernance du soccer au Canada mènera à une séparation claire et efficace des responsabilités de gouvernance du Conseil des responsabilités quotidiennes de la direction et du personnel de l’Association dans la conduite des activités. Le nouveau modèle de gouvernance répondra aux besoins spécifiques et aux exigences uniques du soccer au Canada et offrira plus d’efficacité, de responsabilité et de transparence à l’ensemble de l’Association.

« Cette décision représente un nouveau départ pour le sport du soccer au Canada », estime Dr Dominic Maestracci, président de l’ACS. « Le nouveau cadre de gouvernance offrira à l’ACS la meilleure occasion d’engager ses associations provinciales et territoriales, régions, clubs et autres participants membres à l’échelle nationale dans un effort collectif pour optimiser la popularité du ballon rond au Canada, de la participation à la base aux succès du Canada sur la scène internationale. »

Ce cadre est le produit du processus de renouvellement de la gouvernance qui impliquait un examen officiel des structures et des processus de gouvernance et de gestion par une tierce partie indépendante, par de la recherche et un examen complet par le comité de constitution de l’ACS, par des séances d’éducation du Conseil et par une séance plénière pour tous les délégués à l’Assemblée générale annuelle.

Les prochaines étapes dans le processus de renouvellement impliqueront l’ébauche de politiques de gouvernance qui seront présentées au Conseil d’administration à l’automne 2010. Les modifications aux statuts et règlements seront ensuite présentées à l’AGA de l’ACS en mai 2011 afin d’être formellement adoptées.

L’Association canadienne de soccer, en collaboration avec ses membres et tous ses partenaires corporatifs offre une direction dans la poursuite de l’excellence au soccer au niveau national et international. L’ACS travaille non seulement à mener le Canada à la victoire, mais aussi à encourager les Canadiens à développer une passion permanente pour le soccer.

Canadian Soccer Association • l’Association canadienne de soccer

​

Leading Canada to victory and Canadians to a life-long passion for ​

​

soccer

Mener le Canada à la victoire et les Canadiens à une passion pour le soccer leur vie durant</SPAN> ​

www.CanadaSoccer.com</SPAN>​

 

In a recent article regarding the Alberta Courts decision about the Board situation at the ASA{which has also far reaching impact on the CSA Board situation and restructure Nationally}the Judge advises that the people in Alberta were improperly "suspended" and should be allowed to run and represent Alberta,if elected etc.

The problem with the CSA Executive is that any other unelected dictatorship,they manipulate the media and release carefully selected propaganda only by mostly written memos and out of context.{even Khaddafi or Mubarak are more "democratic" then this}

Therefore,unlike in 99% of other footballing nations,no journalists can ask direct questions in regular press conferences,directly to the CSA Board Executive.

In most,at least UEFA,countries there are Press Conferences following every Executive Board Meeting,Board Meeting and/or any other important meeting.

Not the case in Canada and with the CSA.Maeastracci and Montogliani and the rest such as Traficante avoid media,unless it is carefully structured and no direct questions can be asked.

Even following the FIFA announcement that Canada as the lone applicant was granted to organize the Women's WC in 2015,the Board wouldn't organize a Press Conference with a free question period.

Everything is handled by news releases with almost no access to the actual actors.Several journalists were unbelievably told that there was going to be no media presence and press conference following the last month's CSA Board meeting in Ottawa,where,of course,the Board decided to delay the restructuring of itself as well.{against the majority wishes}

Don't understand why the individuals aren't making themselves regularly available to the media,so question can be directly asked?

Is it that there is so much that couldn't be justified{and could come to the surface} being done by them that the self-appointed unelected buffoons can't talk to the media regularly without a script?Usually,no CSA staff is allowed to talk to the media either and gag orders are in effect almost all the time on many/all issues.



//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Alberta judges slam CSA



by Ben Knight
Published on 03-04-2011 03:32 PM
8


"Everyone in Canada has a constitutional right of access to Her Majesty’s courts as a litigant or as a witness. The punishment impending here (and imposed against the other litigants in the parallel proceedings) is for doing just that. Public policy dictates weighing that when considering the balance of convenience."

These are the words of three Alberta justices, as part of a ruling that the Canadian Soccer Association is not entitled to suspend three Alberta soccer officials who took their fight to reform the Alberta Soccer Association to court.

World soccer, in general, discourages legal entanglement. That's why the CSA is trying to suspend these folks in the first place. The judges openly dismiss this, essentially telling Canada's national governing body of soccer to take -- what would the proper legalese term be for it? -- a running jump.

Here's the full judgment:

This would be a really good time to hear from CSA president Dominic Maestracci, don't you think?

Onward!

----- Original Message ----- From: Miro Kliment
To: mirokliment@shaw.ca
Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2011 8:51 PM
Subject: Canadian Soccer Association Ushers in New Era with Revised Governance Framework...Part 10..."Reform of Soccer on Hold again"...




Despite the best efforts of agents of change such as Mr. Smale,Mr. Billings,Reform Alberta Soccer and others,the fall out from today's meeting in Ottawa clearly indicates that no reforms are being seriously considered.

Although this might sound like a bad crime novel,I think it should be considered to have "organized crime" unit of the RCMP investigate the inner workings of this association,called CSA.

I swear there is something fishy about the way CSA is ran by the current Board and the efforts and fights so they,the current CSA Board members,can stay in their positions the longest as possible is extremely disturbing and more then suspicious.

The only reason that these unqualified individuals are clinging to the current system is that somebody has to be profiteering tremendously from it...trips,perks,influence,jobs for relatives etc. and etc...

The USA are much better at breaking up cartels and organized crime and racketeering then Canada,however,I would suggest that even Canada has to be able to deal with blatant abuse of membership such as this.

It is not surprising that Mr. Chan who ended up "representing" Alberta at this meeting ran the whole thing by Traficante and Fleming even made sure to "cc" them on correspondence they told him to write...{see attached letter}

In this letter Chan justifies voting against the Reform proposal 1 and Reform proposal 2 and supporting no Reform right now,as that he was told {by Traficante and Fleming} that the Board would be out "too fast" as to insinuate that these "characters" think that they are indispensable for the soccer system in the Country...LOL...Beyond unbelievable.

I really don't know how else this reform will come about,unless the authorities get involved.

P.S...

Just FYI...I intend to bring this situation of the Governance of MSA/CSA and soccer in general to the attention of the Mayor and Premier in Winnipeg and Manitoba,so they are aware what type of environment truly exists in soccer.I recently sent them a number of suggestions regarding the Stadium being built at U of Manitoba as to ascertain that that facility will meet international standards for FIFA as far as soccer is concerned...They accepted the suggestion very happily.{see attached}


----- Original Message ----- From: Miro Kliment
To: mirokliment@shaw.ca
Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2011 4:22 PM
Subject: Canadian Soccer Association Ushers in New Era with Revised Governance Framework...Part 9..."Mubarak still won't leave"...





http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=4654

The reform has been promised in 2009 that it would be in 2010,in 2010 that it would be in 2011 and now in 2011 that it needs to wait until 2012...Why?

What is it that the Traficantes of the CSA Board can't leave now?So,Traficante is a good "candidate" for those CSA Board spots right,since he isn't formally on the ASA Board?What a joke.

I don't like the delay and the fact that 3 of those "provincial reps" can still "vote" on the new CSA Board after 2012 at least till 2015...I bet they will try to extend that indefinitely.

How you'd be able to avoid collusion since the other ones will have to come for the same regions is hard to imagine...The old boys network will just divide the jobs and one of them will go to the CSA Board without being formally on the "provincial board"...

This to me amounts to very little in terms of real reforms.

You almost think that these representatives should be appointed by an independent non-judicial body{possibly by Sports Manitoba} that would select the candidates and assure that there is no possible conflict of interest.

Otherwise,this will be just a piece of cake for the "recreational volunteers" to circumvent that and continue with the same ideology and short sighted,conflicted attitudes and opinions.

I think that it is being underestimated what the capacity of these "recreational volunteers" to hang on to the power actually is.They are worst then a chewing gum.

Pretty disappointing although somewhat expected out come of this.Hopes for a "biting" reform were always low.
From: Miro Kliment
To: mirokliment@shaw.ca
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 9:28 PM
Subject: Canadian Soccer Association Ushers in New Era with Revised Governance Framework...Part 8..."democracy Egypt's style"...



The BC "provincial rep" and President,Charlie Cuzzetto,has been interviewed by Ben Knight and his answers are to say the least "puzzling"...

To me he is "sucking and blowing" at the same time,which is nice,but next to useless in order to move the CSA program ahead and especially as it relates to the national program formations.

He said that BC was for the "original" reform which would see that NO "provincial reps" would be on the CSA Board,however,now he's backed off of that and would "support" a compromise where 3 of these clowns would still be able to attend the CSA Board meetings and actually vote...

I saw the further article's part where they discuss that these "provincial reps" are also in the middle of the "national teams committees" whereby they "approve" the coaches and who will play on those squads{indirectly}...LOL...

One very sad turn of events on top of this that these no goodnicks have refused to cancel the "suspensions" that came about as a result of the Board situation in Alberta and Mr. Billings apparently won't be "allowed" to attend the SGM next week{in Ottawa} to represent Alberta on the reform issues...

That is not only undemocratic,but borderline totalitarian{right from the books of Stalin,Hitler,Mussolini,Saddam Hussein,North Korea and Taliban and alike...}...

But what can you expect from these intellectual minnows{proletariat} who can't raise above the pitiful selves and deal with what is important on a level where squabbles are put aside for the benefit of the greater good...

If an individual/protagonist of reforms such as Mr. Billings isn't able/allowed to attend then the entire "circus" will have no legitimacy and the results will not reflect the wishes of the membership.{albeit they claim a mandate,which is doubtful as well}

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

British Columbia on governance reform




by Ben Knight Published on 01-29-2011 01:00 AM




Author's note: Charlie Cuzzetto is president of the British Columbia Soccer Association.

Now, try this on -- since the Alberta Soccer Association board got hoofed last Friday, the backstage buzz in my ear has been that B.C. is not in favour of CSA governance reform. Turns out -- according to Cuzzetto, at least -- there simply isn't a syllable of truth to that.

Believe what you will. Here's the straight scoop from the Left Coast:

---

Does British Columbia support the original model for CSA governance reform – the one which removes all provincial and territorial soccer association presidents from the CSA board?

We were strong supporters of the motion at last spring’s AGM, and felt that plan would be successful. However, I’m sort of a realist, and I came to the realization, with the various discussions that were happening, that certain provinces would not be in favour of that. And the reality of the bylaws is that you have to have a two-thirds majority for it to pass, and it wasn’t going to.

So, instead of having nothing, we examined different options in different areas, and I guess it’s called the compromise model. I felt that, if that went through, we would get about 97 per-cent of what we would have gotten with the first model – including the separation of operational aspects from what the board should be doing.

So clearly that means that British Columbia will support the compromise model if the original proposal is defeated a week Saturday?

Yeah. We support the original model, but we also support the compromise. We believe it is important for the Canadian Soccer Association to move forward, and deal with all the issues we have to deal with – not just governance.

I think that the compromise model, if you look at it closely, there’s not too many things that are different. As a matter of fact, there are some things that are enhanced from the original plan. There’s no executive committee in either, so that’s not an issue, but the national teams committee disappears in the compromise plan – which I feel is an important aspect because I don’t think Canada needs one.

I strongly believe that the provinces should not be involved in the national team program. It should be run by professional people who understand all the aspects – technical, competition – and should be setting goals and objectives, and be evaluated on those. I strongly believe that we should have that separation, and I think it is happening.

I’ve only been on the CSA board for a year and a little bit, but I’ve seen quite a bit of improvement. I think with this proposal – whether it’s the original plan or the compromise – I think you’ll see a big shift moving forward. Even with the compromise model, with three provincial presidents … some people think that’s going to be a big impediment, but I don’t think that it will. The structure of the board changes, and the functions of what the board does will be different. Long-term planning and strategic vision will change. We’ll reach a point where provincial presidents will feel that being on the CSA board is too much work. They’ll have to compromise on one, and not do both.

Ontario Soccer Association president Ron Smale has been adamant that he does not support the compromise proposal. Ontario has a large percentage of the votes that would be required to defeat it. Do you see any possibility that the compromise model could fail, and we’d all be left – essentially – with nothing?

I’d be shocked if that happens. I’d be extremely disappointed, because it would be a failure of the CSA, and all of us. I’m an optimist, and I believe either the full motion or the compromise will pass, which will be huge in the betterment of the CSA.

I was the chairman of the B.C. governance committee years back, when we were trying to evolve or change our structure. And we made a big mistake. We made it all or nothing. The majority of the stuff was a no-brainer, but there were certain areas where the changes were too powerful for the membership. And they rejected it. And I don’t want to make that mistake again, and I’ve communicated that to the members. If we get 97 per-cent of the deal, I think that’s a big, big step.




10 Comments

1. Unregistered - Today, 05:17 AM
   
   We'll see exactly how the provincial 'leader's feel after the upcoming meetings in Ottawa this week. I read a point in the article that professionals should be in charge of national team programs and not provincial leaders. Now, looking on Google one can see that the BC President interviewed above is in charge of the national futsal committee, how is that going to pan out? Everyone of these provincial Presidents is going to be under a microscope on every view they present from every angle they represent; whether it be as a provincial chief or committee chair (there are more committees than just the executive folks remember that). Canadians have shown they're angry with their soccer leaders and are voicing their opinions loud and clear, accountability is thankfully going to become mandatory.
   
   Alberta was step one but let's face the facts, there is still a very large hill to climb and there are still rifts between various provincial associations that are still lingering around. No compromise should exist, go big or go home.
   ​
   • egistered - Today, 08:32 AM
2. 
   
   Hopefully it pans out with the original proposal, but if not it does seem that one of the compromises (again, preferring the second over third vote) would be a step in the right direction for the next few years, after which they could review the implemented, revised model and its results, voting on further changes if need be once the term is completed. I'm not sure about 'going big or going home', isn't significant change (or even some change) better than none?
   ​
   • Unregistered - Today, 08:53 AM
3. 
   
   We need less people in soccer in Canada who have compromise as their goal.
   ​
   • Unregistered - Today, 09:21 AM
4. 
   
   Talk to quebec Ben-that is where the hardened anti reformers are.
   ​
   • Ben Knight - Today, 10:56 AM
5. 
   
   Multiple messages have been left for Quebec. You'll know when I do.
   ​
   • ag futbol - Today, 10:59 AM
6. 
   
   Side note, I was kind of interested to see that the logo for BC soccer is shockingly modern.
   
   I'm used the the CSA / other logos looking like a 3 year olds art project.
   ​
   • Unregistered - Today, 12:52 PM
7. 
   
   At least BC is now on record with their position, which seems to be more then most provinces will do.
   ​
   • Unregistered - Today, 06:21 PM
8. 
   
   BC Soccer logo is modern?
   They've just hijacked Spain's logo and made a couple tweaks....hardly cutting edge and unique to BC!
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_S...all_Federation
   ​
   • Unregistered - Today, 08:54 PM
9. 
   
   Absolutely sickening to think that Traficante ran the "national teams" etc...
   ​

----- Original Message ----- From: Miro Kliment
To: mirokliment@shaw.ca
Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2011 9:35 PM
Subject: Canadian Soccer Association Ushers in New Era with Revised Governance Framework...Part 7...Democracy prevails in Alberta...





It is very important to follow up the events in Alberta to make sure that the CSA Board doesn't think that they could forever evade and avoid the membership wishes...

All the arguments about the fact that The Regional Associations collect fees and cut a check to the CSA for 7 dollars a player{out of hundreds and thousands,they collect per player},therefore that means they have to run the entire CSA,is preposterous and comical.

The best obviously would be if CSA could open their own offices in each Province and register teams,players nationally in a centralized data bank...

That would eliminate the "hassle" the provincial reps have in calculating the 7 dollar a person portion going to CSA...Out of the hundreds of dollars per player they waste and embezzle on non-soccer related expenditures.

The provincial reps and their associations would serve as a local body for discipline and scheduling of games and refs issues,however,the Registration and Sanctioning of Teams,Players and Leagues and Academies would be handled directly by CSA.

So,every Canadian Team,Academy,League and Player would have a CSA registration number valid anywhere in Canada..

No need to have 12 different bodies doing the same and CSA on top of that.

Second,very important issue is that CSA reverses in writing the fact that they{Traficante forced everybody to}"suspend" Mr. Billings and others for standing up for principles that have proven to be the right ones.

Mr. Billings as a protagonist has to be "allowed" to represent Alberta at the Reform CSA Board meeting in 2 weeks...

Otherwise there is no reason to hold that meeting as it won't be whole,representative and able to decide the direction of the game going forward...

It is beyond reason how an unqualified,incompetent and nepotist fella such as Traficante holds a seat on the Executive Committee of the CSA and has been the Chairman of the Player and Coaches Committee etc...{has apparently and most recently background in a sandwich making "mac job" prior to the "career" in CSA as a professional volunteer}

All that while individuals suitable to do that such as Jason deVos,Graig Forrest and many others etc...are relegated into a broadcasting role or no role at all...

I hope that CSA will do what's right,that Mr. Smale and Billings can boldly help the CSA Board be reformed{get itself rid of "provincial reps" from the Board and voting} and hopefully,brighter future will be in,especially for the Men's programs from now on.

The effectiveness of the RTC/NTC centers and their staffing needs to be looked at and also the way the National Youth Squads end up with their Coaching staff needs to re-examined,especially on Men's side,but not excluding the Women.

Miro Kliment.
----- Original Message ----- From: Miro Kliment
To: mirokliment@shaw.ca
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2011 5:09 PM
Subject: Canadian Soccer Association Ushers in New Era with Revised Governance Framework...Part 7...Democracy prevails in Alberta...




The good old Alberta,the best place in Canada,proved once again that they as a population demand their voices be heard and want democratic process.
Today,the CSA Board backed "old boys network" group who wanted to cease control in Alberta following last legitimate Elections,lost,independent judiciary ordered them to back off and where were the CSA apparatchiks hiding?Under the table so they won't be charged and/or come in the way of the masses in Alberta' soccer.

The CSA has made a first mistake nearly 2 years ago,when under pressure they agreed to "reform" the Board,but to delay that for 18!!! months ...{believe,don't quote me though, they agreed to do that at Banff Springs Hotel{their favorite hang out for meetings}...They allowed an 18 month delay in implementation of the reforms.

They{professional volunteers},however,"needed" 18 months{to cover their tracks} !!! in order to facilitate the change of removing "provincial reps",themselves,from the CSA Board.

Then last year,in Winnipeg,in the most expensive hotel Fort Garry,they hobnobbed at great expense again to "vote" amongst each other with Traficante opposing and being allowed to illegally "vote" for Alberta{as Traficante was in process to shuffle Mr. Billings from the ASA elected office} and approved that the reform has to go forward.

Traficante is a " CSA Board member at large",pardon upon...with no role within the CSA structure,other then to see to it that the cartel like money sucking nepotist leeching continues and nothing constructive gets done.

After today's events in Alberta it is time without any further a due to have the CSA Board replaced by qualified soccer background individuals without regional/provincial conflicts of interests...No more delays...

I am sure that the infamous and next to useless "provincial reps" can still do their thing{whatever it is} at the newly established "membership forum",where they belong.

Every soccer fan in Canada who is familiar with the "institutional memory" on this will accept nothing else then February 5th/11 as a day when the real complete reform becomes effective...

Bye,bye "provincial reps",...The 18 months is up NOW!!!

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Congratulation to Canadian Women's team turning a loss 0:2 at HT into 3:2 win over China...Caroline Morace knows what she is doing...USA lost to Sweden 1:2.

The Men's teams in terrible disarray on the other hand...the U-23 following the awful track record of the U-20's by not only losing 0:4 to a USA "c" National team,not being able to either defend themselves and/or score ,just the other day.Today they have put a crown on that by managing to lose to a local team of amateurs in Arizona 1:2...Combination of bad selection procedures by allowing players who have no business on a national team{part time soccer players,players with no clubs,university soccer players active 3 months a year etc., and etc.} attend these camps and of course below average game management and coaching.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

"This isn't about me" -- Chris Billings responds



by Ben Knight


Published on 01-21-2011 04:37 PM
1




Author’s note: Within an hour of Mario Charpentier’s dismissal from the board of the Alberta Soccer Association, Chris Billings – the ASA president Charpentier deposed – spoke exclusively to Canadian Soccer News:

---

I want to know your thoughts, as this has happened today.

Well, I think this is about what the membership wants, and it has been from the get-go. In January, 2009, the membership voted to change the leadership with my election, and the election of other individuals. Of course, at last January’s AGM, they [the Charpentier group] re-organized themselves and came back to take control of the organization. Thirty days later, of course, their intentions became known. And since then, the members have stood up and had their voices heard, and It’s been a very long process.

This isn’t about me. They tried to make it about me as much as they possibly could. So I think the members have spoken loud and clear today, and the vote was over two-thirds to remove Mr. Charpentier, and a lot more than that for the other six individuals.

The practical day-to-day questions that remain now: Who is the head of the Alberta Soccer Association? How does this board function? And who shows up to represent Alberta at the CSA SGM in two weeks?

That’s going to be a question for the membership to determine. I honestly can’t tell you what will happen. I don’t know if they will want to include me in those discussions. That’s up to the membership, and I will leave it in their capable hands. I think over the course of the next week, there will be some correspondence from the CSA executive committee. It’s quite clear that four of their seven members have a tight grip on that committee – voting together as a block. Whether they have the best intentions of the whole board, they represent the whole board. It’s something the CSA as a whole will have to take a look at.

I think, from the letter that Mr. Maestracci put out, it’s somewhat clear as to what position they’re going to take. Whether or not they’re going to try to go against the court of Alberta is quite another matter. Time is going to tell us.

Would you ever want to be involved in this again, or has this been quite enough, thank you very much?

It’s been a lot. There are people who have posted on your website: “Why didn’t Billings just resign in the first place?”

I did nothing wrong. The allegations that I’m aware of – the misappropriation of funds – it’s completely ludicrous. They make these vague allegations that I harassed people and harassed office staff, and they won’t define those allegations. For my own integrity, I just simply could not accept being put on a railroad so many others have ridden before me. There are many individuals in Alberta who have been driven out of politics by Mario Charpentier, Mike Traficante, Fred Kern and Colin Innes. I said to myself that I’m simply going to stand up, and tell people that what’s being done is not right.

Now after all this is said and done, it’s been extremely stressful on me and my family. I don’t know what the future holds for me. Dominique Maestracci and Victor Montagliani have me on an island, and I’m pretty sure I won’t be allowed into another CSA AGM while they’re in charge. Whether or not the people of Alberta want me to continue to govern is up to them. I don’t know what my future holds. But I haven’t walked away from them, and I’m not walking away from them yet.


----- Original Message ----- From: Miro Kliment
To: mirokliment@shaw.ca
Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 9:11 PM
Subject: Canadian Soccer Association Ushers in New Era with Revised Governance Framework...Part 6...CSA Board members on the wrong side of the issues...






Very disturbing turn of events in Alberta.Mr. Jevne describes in a recent interview what his first hand look revealed into ASA's operations...{pasted below}.

All we suspected and much more.Also an interesting article in Edmonton Journal{also pasted below}.

Also,check out...:

http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?1000-No-ASA-election-to-take-place-CSA-president

and...:

http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?991-It-s-Called-Football-Guest-Jason-deVos

Well wishing membership called for a SGM meeting this Friday,so they could table a new vote,express their wishes on whom they want as their Provincial Board...However,CSA is interfering with it's current CSA Board members,Montogliani,Masteracci and Traficante as they know that would spell the end of their tainted spells in soccer and end to their "hands in the cookie jar" without anyone to catch them...

The newly elected Board in ASA would continue the same reforms that were started by Mr. Billings election as the ASA's President.

That would result in Alberta joining Ontario in complete restructure of the CSA's Board,in order to have a Board populated by individuals who have no conflicts of interests and the infamous "provincial reps" will be a part of Membership Forum whom the new Board would do consultation only,however,the "provincial reps" would lose their veto powers by not having a vote anymore to endlessly block progress in Canadian soccer,by voting against it.

The reps are mainly in panic as this will spell the end to their endless questionable use of the CSA's funds,extensive frivolous purposeless trips around the Globe,lavish get together and the "feeling of power" from knowing that they are embezzling the funds and futures of unsuspecting Canadian youth soccer public/families and children soccer players.

The "grassroots" kids soccer has evolved into a big industry,because of the numbers of families paying huge fees for their kinds to play entry level soccer and some of these "CSA volunteers" have made this into a comfortable nepotistic sheikdom,where they just take and grab money and benefits by hand fulls,without providing anything in return to the system and without anyone supervising how much is being wasted and embezzled.

It is funny that this culture of "rip off" is nourished from the lowest "associations" whose only purpose is to crank out soccer schedules a couple times a year at tremendous wasteful costs charged to the parents.

No quality,kids and their families herded through "try-outs" and rec. system like cattle with nothing at the other end,except a wrong stale system of money rip-offs.

Friday will show if soccer in Canada has a promising future and can get itself rid off the CSA "reps" and/or it will be Traficante's World leeched as usual for a decade to come on the system for their own personal and their family/relatives benefits at everyone's loss and costs.

These CSA Board members keep popping up in every media interview on this subject as to whom to blame for the current situation.

CSA Board members have caused this stalemate in Alberta to begin with and now they mismanaged the process to the point that if Alberta's members bring this to FIFA's attention,the entire Country might be suspended from international soccer,such as jurisdictions of Iraq,Iran or Nigeria..."Nice work" CSA Board...

That's why we "paid" you millions to administer/oversee an honest system.

Let's get the corrupted clowns out of there NOW!!!

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Karl Jevne speaks -- a voice from within the storm



by Ben Knight
Published on 01-18-2011 10:49 AM


Author's note: Karl Jevne is past-president of the Central Alberta Soccer Association.

He is one of several Alberta soccer officials who took legal action to try to oppose Mario Charpentier's ASA board of directors. For that, he faces a March 16 disciplinary hearing with the Canadian Soccer Association.

His association faces imminent suspension, which could prevent them from casting votes at this Friday's court-ordered ASA Specal General Meeting.

CASA's vote could ultimately be crucial in keeping the dream of Canadian soccer governance reform alive.

He has agreed to share his perspectives on the ever-worsening Alberta mess with Canadian Soccer News:

---

1) Who are you, and how did you get into this situation?

Until stepping down at the end of November, I've been the President of the Central Alberta Soccer Association for nine years. We are a small rural member district of ASA located between Edmonton and Calgary, surrounding but not including the city of Red Deer. There are thirteen small cities and towns in our district with a player population around 4000. Like most other volunteer Board members in this province (with a few notable exceptions), I ended up with the job because no one else would do it and I happen to love the game and was willing to serve. We live in an extremely hockey-centric part of Canada so soccer life is not always the easiest to put it mildly.

The biggest reason our district got to where we are in this dispute stems from the fact that the ASA has never served the rural areas well. The two biggest associations in Alberta, namely the Edmonton and Calgary Minor Soccer Associations, have controlled the ASA Board for a very long time and to be frank, have made a mess of it. In somewhat of a perfect storm at the 2009 ASA AGM, we were able to elect a President and Vice-President from ouside the two big cities. Although the Board was still split some good things did start happening at the ASA. Of course as probably everyone who has followed this knows by now, this situation ended abruptly at the 2010 AGM and with the suspension of the President less than a month later.

The CASA district could not stand back without doing something, along with many others, to try to right the incredible wrongs that were perpetrated by Mario Charpentier and Colin Innes and their minions. At the time we could not have predicted the interference of the CSA. We were well aware that the new ASA Board had no respect for bylaws or justice, but did not fully realize the extent of the the ties between some of the Executive of the CSA and the ASA Board. The issue of governance reform is one that many Albertans were aware of prior to this, and in fact was one of the reasons that Chris Billings was such a popular choice of the rural districts, smaller cities and those associations that were not under the direct control of Mario Charpentier and Colin Innes.

2) Is Mario Charpentier the rightful president of the Alberta Soccer Association?

I know you mean 1st Vice-President as of course Mario has never been and never will be President of the ASA. Even his Calgary allies wouldn't vote for him as they proved at the 2009 ASA AGM. As far as the majority of the members of the ASA are concerned, he is definitely not the rightful VP, and if the court had not ruled that the April 24th Special General Meeting was procedurally incorrect, he would not be today.

3) Why did you choose to risk suspension by taking the ASA situation to court?

Mario's Board had decided that our district, along with several others, would be banned from participating in provincial youth championships last summer. As the ASA bank accounts had been frozen, several districts set up a trust fund to pay their player registration fees into – a move which was bitterly opposed by the Mario Board. That fund was used to help the office staff pay salaries and bills. Although at the time we had two Boards claiming to represent the ASA, Mario's Board had the unconditional backing of their CSA cohorts and were intimidating the staff into semi-co-operating with them. We went to court specifically to get a ruling to protect our youth and adults from being banned by that board from playing, and to protect the ASA staff from their abuses, which by the way have been partially documented (check reformalbertasoccer website).

4) How has the Central Alberta Soccer Association been affected?

Both negatively and positively. The negative part of course is financial and emotional distress. The uncertainty of the situation is hard on everyone. The positive part is the coming together of the vast majority of our members. Right now in Central Alberta, you could easily get a few thousand "sack the CSA" votes with no trouble. Another good thing is how many people are now aware of the both the Voyageurs and Canadian Soccer News websites. So I would consider the increased awareness of the average volunteer, players, parents, etc. is the one big positive to come out of this. An informed membership is the worst possible scenario for both the present ASA and the CSA Boards. Of course I'm referring only to those board members who have been so determined to undermine reform.

5) Do you believe soccer governance reform is threatened by the current ASA board's actions?

Unquestionably. Without that card, the whole deck would have collapsed by now. Mario and Colin have nothing to offer the CSA other than their support for Mike Traficante, Dominic Maestracci and their supporters.

6) What is the best possible solution to the current crisis?

A ruling by Alberta Court of Queen's bench that the SGM called for this Friday go ahead with all members in attendance, under the control of an independent chair with open attendance. After that, an AGM where the members can vote for the board of their choice. Long-term, a way has to be found to change the ASA Bylaws to achieve governance reform in Alberta.

7) Do you think that your district and the others who signed the SGM petition have enough votes to pass the SGM resolutions?

I believe we do. I think people have had enough of this board, and are looking for leadership from a board that has the best interests of the sport and it's participants at heart – and not the selfish ambitions of power hungry professional "volunteers." I believe there are individuals out there who would be more than happy to step forward if they knew they wouldn't have to face the kind of mean, petty nastiness that has prevailed for so long at the ASA.

 

I don't have a problem with FIFA,but with CSA and their Board.

 

Get familiar with what is going on with the CSA Board reform and situation in Alberta...You can only hope that nobody will bring that to FIFA's attention.

 

Very unusual response from the President and Chairman of the CSA Board,D. Maestracci...{below}

A soccer investigative journalist Mr. Knight submitted a question to him regarding the below described situation in Alberta.

In an attempt to mask all the wrongs{and pretend confussion} that are being committed by the CSA Board mainly in Alberta,Maestracci writes that he "sent a letter to FIFA" about the situation with Courts in Alberta.

Of course Maestracci didn't enclose a copy of that letter to FIFA...For obvious reasons I suppose...Mainly he doesn't want the public to know the contents of the letter and all the half truths and misrepresentations in it.

I am sure he will portray himself as the well wishing old man who is just being overran by events way above his head and that he needs their "help" etc...

It is imperative that the Reform Alberta Soccer and Reform CSA Board movements send their own letters to FIFA regarding what is happening here.

FIFA knows that it isn't above the respective countries justice systems,however,do not want Governments and/or Courts to run day to day operations of the National Associations.

When a criminal activity is alleged however,the Courts have no choice but to get involved.That can mean that current CSA Board and management will be removed by FIFA and a forced change will come about as a result of that.Another possible outcome is that FIFA will suspend the National Association from all international competitions until the matters are resolved.

I find it pretty misleading to pretend now in front of FIFA that the CSA Board didn't know what they were doing etc. when they knowingly broke legal rulings in Alberta and that Montogliani and Traficante,amongst others,had no agenda in their minds.

The fact is that they needed to have Mr. Billings "suspended" so he wouldn't lead the CSA Board reform movement and they'd be able to stay in their cushy pro-volunteers nepotist un-elected posts for as long as possible.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Maestracci responds



by Ben Knight
Published on 03-06-2011 07:39 PM


The following e-mail was sent to me this afternoon.

This is CSA president Dominic Maestracci, responding to my request for a comment on Friday's ruling by three Alberta justices that the CSA is not entitled to suspend soccer officials in Alberta for taking their complaints to court.

The e-mail was CC'd to CSA general-secretary Peter Montopoli.

---

Sunday, March 6, 2011 2:58 PM
From: "Maestracci Dominique"
To: "Ben Knight"
Cc: "Peter Montopoli"

Sir,

I have sent this morning your article and the decision of the Alberta Court of appeal to the Director of legal affairs and the Director of Relations with National Associations of FIFA. These people are fully aware of the Alberta situation.

As soon as, I will receive the FIFA answer, I will reply to your article in the respect of the ASA, CSA and FIFA By-Laws.

By this e-mail I am asking our General Secretary to inform all members of the Board.

D Maestracci

President
Canadian Soccer association

---

Reprinted in full, without comment.

Onward!


2 Comments

1. oc64 - Today, 08:17 PM
   
   hmmm...a response that isn`t really a response at all.
   ​
   • Reply

1. kj52 - Today, 08:27 PM
   
   Hopefully he defies the court of appeals and goes to jail for a long time. It's a pleasant thought anyway.
   ​