After speaking to the Canadian Soccer Association off the record about the issue of CSL match-fixing for about a month, they finally agreed to put things on the record yesterday.
Admittedly, the interview with CSA president Victor Montagliani didn’t reveal much. They’re concerned about the issue. They’ve met with FIFA for guidance. And they’re hiring a security director in 2013 to combat future fixing as it arises (and in the modern game, it will.)
As for prosecution, well, the RCMP, according to the CSA, is no longer investigating the matter. They didn’t, according to the CSA, have jurisdictional grounds to go after the German based fixers who manipulated games here.
That says nothing of the fact that the Canadian based players who were involved in the fix will get off. And that also says nothing of the fact that the league, the teams involved nor any other individuals who have been attached to these nasty incidents will not face any kind of discipline from the CSA.
In summary, as it was told to me yesterday, the governing body in this country doesn’t have the resources to go after match-fixers (which is true) and they’re more focused on preventing this from happening again (which is fine.)
But these actions – and the decision to not pursue it further - by both the RCMP and the CSA are setting a terrible example.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]For the RCMP’s part, it says that when organized crime comes here from abroad the local authorities will not protect their own borders from this kind of influence.
These fixers came to Canada with the sole intent of manipulating games for profit. They care nothing for our sport, the people who live here or anyone involved. They’re not here to develop players or grow the game, the only thing they’re interested in is making an easy profit. And by not chasing them down, they’re making it all the easier for them to do it again.
As one fixer put it in the wiretaps, "If we don’t become rich here, then I don't know where we could become rich.”
By not perusing prosecution in what should be a clear-cut case, it also says that those who are residents of Canada and have committed crimes against the sport (and criminal) will not face prosecution. These are people who live within our communities and play for our teams and are willing to bring the game into disrepute for their own selfish means. They have committed fraud and are being allowed to walk away from it.
I can’t help but think that if this had happened in a low level hockey league then we would have called in the army by now.
The CSA, despite its limits, is not without fault either. By not suspending, sanctioning or even investigating the league further, it says that the governing body of this country is not willing, or able, to internally discipline those who step out of line.
According to the wiretaps obtained by the CBC, we know that the same people who came here in 2009 actively looked into purchasing a team in the CSL.
Have they been able to purchase teams?
The CBC (and myself) have made several requests to the CSL for access to their ownership records dating back to 2009. To, at the very least, clear the air that there has been no further intrusion by the Croatian fixers. And, despite their promises for co-operation, the CSL have failed to return emails, phone calls and outright refused the request several times.
Why? Who knows? Hell, who knows who is telling the owners to refuse the request?
But as long as this question continues to hang over the league, then they’ll never be out from under this cloud of doubt. And despite what the CSL may think (and are telling people) I’m not out to get them. I don’t have some mysterious ulterior motive. I want this matter settled and Canadian soccer rid of these fixers for good. That’s it.
So, if the CSA is serious about preventing future problems from occurring - and Montagliani meant what he said – then getting on top of this big question mark would be a good way to show that the CSA “won't be burying our heads in the sand.”