It appears TFC academy will be looking for a new league in 2013.
As Ben Rycroft reported earlier, the CSA is not going to sanction the Canadian Soccer League in 2013. They have made that decision based on recommendations in the Easton Report. As per those recommendations the CSA has indicated that division 3, semi-pro soccer will be organized at the provincial level rather than at the CSA level.
The CSL has also failed to appropriately deal with proven match fixing, and failed to meet CSA division 3 requirements. The most notable violation of the CSA rules is a failure by the majority of teams to pay players a minimum requirement.
The CSA directed the CSL to apply to the Ontario Soccer Association for sanctioning for 2013. However, it seems unlikely that the OSA will sanction the CSL as a professional league.
The OSA is working towards launching the new Ontario 1 league in 2013 and rules prevent the provincial body from sanctioning more than one pro league.
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Sources stress that the CSL will operate in 2013, but that the only way it could do so as a professional operation is if the OSA changed its rules to allow further sanctioning.
There is no indication that the OSA is going to do that.
The CSL could also apply to operate as a men’s recreational league, or it could operate as a rogue league. Individual teams currently in the CSL would be free to apply to Ontario 1, so long as they meet the league requirements.
Playing in a rogue league would be a non-starter for TFCA and it’s highly unlikely that men’s recreation league would be a good fit for the club. Thus, it seems highly likely that TFCA will need to find a new league for 2013.
Reached for comment, TFC indicated that no decision had been made yet.
“We are working with the Ontario Soccer Association to ensure the best possible development environment for our Academy players at every age level and will collaborate with them in finding the right solution,” the club said in a statement.
Of interest is the fact that the club did not mention the CSL in the release.
Additionally, the club said that they were actively working to ensure that TFCA players were not exposed to matchfixers.
“We will also use the resources Major League Soccer dedicates to our First Team, including the Soccer Security Agents the League has identified, to ensure our Academy players are fully informed of the potential for undue or inappropriate influence by outsiders over matches in which they compete.”