Suddenly, unexpectedly, the drive to reform the governing structure of the Canadian Soccer Association is taking huge, unprecedented steps forward.
The CSA’s “Constitution Committee” has recommended enormous changes – including the outright elimination of provincial and territorial soccer association reps on the CSA board.
This is huge, because Canada has been eternally saddled with an ineffective board, filled to overflowing with members looking out for their local agendas first, and our national soccer teams second.
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These changes were tentatively approved at the CSA’s annual general meeting this past weekend. And even though the fight is not over, and no reforms can be enacted until the middle of next May, the fact that such huge changes are so very, very close to fruition is – frankly – astonishing.
There are still some nasty confrontations and dirty tactics ahead. Multiple sources have told me Alberta and Quebec both opposed the reforms. Alberta is a huge point of interest right now, because the reform process has split the province to the point there are actually two Alberta Soccer Association boards, and a brewing legal dispute over who actually holds power.
And many of the CSA’s highest-ranking bureaucrats – the ones with the most to lose – are also far from comfortable with the imminent change.
I’ve got a lot of research to do before I’m up to speed on the whos, whys and wherefores, but I’d like to issue a little call to arms – to the fans and all my fellow Canadian soccer journalists.
Whatever fight is coming, let’s all work together to see that it gets fought in public. Whichever provincial reps are refusing to go quietly, let’s all make sure that can’t just sneak into the back rooms and start swinging meat hooks and cleavers.
The call for actual reform is now louder than I’ve ever heard it, and the fact that provincial reps are this close to getting the heave-ho is far more than I thought I’d live to see happen.
Please understand: it’s not that I don’t want regional voices on the board. Indeed, the new proposal insists on regional representation from across Canada. The reps just cannot be affiliated with provincial and territorial boards.
The goal is to create a truly national CSA, that can offer clear leadership and blanket programs, without having to politically appease a dozen or more local agendas.
So it’s time to put Alberta and Quebec under the spotlight. What is going on? Are they resisting for reasons that are good for national soccer, or for local or even personal reasons? It’s time we met all the characters – on both sides of the debate.
Gradually, I’ll be working to do this. But please don’t wait for me. Writers – get on the phone. Fans – tell us what you know.
The stakes are simple: opponents to these reforms are putting their interests ahead of our collective dream. Canada’s road to the World Cup has been needlessly blocked for too long. Anyone standing in the middle of it now had better have a reason that doesn’t start with “I”.
The spotlight’s coming on, people. Please help me make it burn as hotly and brightly as possible.
More soon.
Onward!