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    Guest
    As reported today by Sports Illustrated, FIFA has finally admitted to the possibility that games were fixed at this past summer’s Gold Cup.
    News of the potential fix is months old, but it is interesting to note that FIFA remains interested in the case. The results in question involved three different countries – Cuba, Grenada and El Salvador.
    Considering that all three of those teams were in groups not involving Canada, and that the Gold Cup qualifies the two best third place finishers (and Canada lost out on that because it didn’t beat up a team under match fixing allegations), Canadian fans can feel justified in being more than a tad bit aggrieved.
    As CSN contributor and The Score’s Footy Blog editor Richard Whittall pointed out to me earlier today, that this news comes out today is a bit odd when you consider that it falls on the heels of ex-co member Issa Hayatou getting a slap on the wrist for essentially taking a bribe (allegedly, duh) to give Qatar the 2022 World Cup.
    Distraction can be a wonderful PR exercise, can’t it?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    Men's Olympic qualifying schedule

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    The Olympic qualifying schedule is below the jump:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    CONCACAF OLYMPIC QUALIFYING SCHEDULE (All times Eastern)
    GROUP A (LP Field, Nashville, Tenn.)
    Thursday, March 22
    El Salvador vs. Canada, 6:30 p.m.
    United States vs. Cuba, 9 p.m.
    Saturday, March 24
    Cuba vs. El Salvador, 4:30 p.m.
    United States vs. Canada, 7 p.m.

    Monday, March 26
    Canada vs. Cuba, 6:30 p.m.
    United States vs. El Salvador, 9 p.m.

    GROUP B (Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.)

    Friday, March 23
    Honduras vs. Panama, 9 p.m.
    Trinidad & Tobago vs. Mexico, 11:30 p.m.

    Sunday, March 25
    Panama vs. Trinidad & Tobago, 4:30 p.m.
    Mexico vs. Honduras, 7 p.m.
    Tuesday, March 27
    Honduras vs. Trinidad & Tobago, 9 p.m.
    Mexico vs. Panama, 11:30 p.m.
    SEMIFINALS (Livestrong Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kan.)
    Saturday, March 31
    Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up, 6 p.m.
    Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up, 9 p.m.
    CHAMPIONSHIP (Livestrong Sporting Park)
    Monday, April 2
    Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.
    Guest
    Canadian Soccer News has learned that an audit conducted for the Canadian Soccer Association has revealed that only two of the Canadian Soccer League's 14 teams have met the standards for D3 sanctioning in Canada.
    The CSA professional committee met with league officials last week and at that time a report on the finances, player salaries and coaching standards was presented to the committee. Only the York Region Shooters and Montreal Impact Academy were deemed to be in compliance with the CSA's D3 standards. Toronto FC's Academy was not included in the finanacial part of the audit because of their unique professional structure.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The CSL will have to come before the committee again in mid-January with a plan to bring the remaining teams up to standard - the most glaring of which, CSN was told, was the lack of compliance on player's salaries.
    Those close to the situation told CSN that it was too early to discuss the CSL's D3 sanctioning being pulled, but that the standards would have to be met if the league wanted to continue its standing at D3.
    Also, of note, was that at the same meeting the CSL brought forward a proposal to seek sanctioning on a women's league. The proposal suggested that women's teams would be paired alongside its First Division men's sides. That proposal has been shelved until the league is able to resolve its issues on the men's side.
    Guest
    The game didn’t happen in Canada, nor involve a Canadian teams or players, but yesterday’s 7-1 win by Lyon over Dinamo Zagreb should be of interest to fans of the game here and everywhere.
    We live in a world where the possibility of match fixing hangs over the sport any time there is a result that doesn’t add up. As much as we want to pretend that every result is on the up and up we can’t. There is simply too much evidence to suggest otherwise.
    ARJEL, the French online gaming authority, agrees. They have opened an investigation into the game. That news won’t come as a surprise to Ajax coach Frank de Boer. After the game he had not completely given up hope that the Dutch side might be playing in the Champions League come February.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    “I know they (Lyon) were playing against ten men but I’ve also heard some of the goals were very easy,” he said.” If something strange has happened, we can still prove it.”
    On its own the video below doesn’t prove anything. It doesn’t do much to inspire confidence in the integrity of the result either.


    Let’s hope UEFA cooperates fully with the investigation and, if there is something found, severe punishments to all involved are applied.
    Guest

    Toronto make Lambe signing official

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    As expected, Toronto signed Bermudian international Reggie Lambe today. Lambe plays a wide midfield role. MLS does not allow for teams to release terms of the deal, so we won't know how much of the estimated $500,000 left under the cap that the Reds used.
    Lambe has been linked to TFC for some time. He had a trial with the club immediately after the season ended.
    At just 20, Lambe continues the pattern of Aron Winter bringing in younger players.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    Impact sign Montano to permanent deal

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    The flurry of Montreal Impact player acquisitions continued as the new MLS club announced that it had come to terms with former Seattle Sounders player Miguel Montano.
    The 20-year-old Colombian spent time with the NASL Impact this year, arriving on loan from the Sounders midway through the 2011 season. He scored one goal in his six league matches with the Impact.
    Montano becomes the fifth player to make the jump from the Impact's 2011 NASL roster to MLS.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    Canada learns path to London

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Canada’s efforts to get to the London Olympics will go through the USA once again, as the Canucks drew the Americans in Group A of the Olympic qualifyer. The USA beat Canada in the semi-final of the 2008 tournament to earn the berth to China.
    Cuba and El Salvador round out group A. Group B is Mexico, Honduras, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago.
    With only two teams going to the Games, it’s vital to Canada’s chances to get a good result against the United States (and obviously win its winnable games against Cuba and El Salvador) to avoid a semi-final match-up with Mexico.
    The group games will be played in Nashville. If Canada advances, it will play its semi-final match in Kansas City.
    The tournament goes March 22-April 2.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    There were no big surprises today when the Canadian women's team released its training camp line-up preparing for the Olympic qualifying tournament next month in Vancouver. The roster below the jump:[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    GK- Karina LeBlanc | USA / Sky Blue FC
    GK- Erin McLeod | SWE / Dalsjöfors G.o.I.F.
    CB- Candace Chapman | USA / Sky Blue FC
    CB- Shannon Woeller | USA / Rutgers University
    CB- Emily Zurrer | SWE / Dalsjöfors G.o.I.F.
    FB- Melanie Booth | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    FB- Robyn Gayle | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    FB- Marie-Eve Nault | CAN / Ottawa Fury
    FB- Lauren Sesselmann | USA / Atlanta Beat
    FB- Rhian Wilkinson | NOR / Lillestrøm SK Kvinner
    D- Brittany Timko | Unattached / sans club
    M- Kaylyn Kyle | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    M- Carmelina Moscato | SWE / Piteå IF
    M- Alyscha Mottershead | USA / Syracuse University
    M- Kelly Parker | USA / Atlanta Beat
    M- Sophie Schmidt | Unattached / sans club
    M- Desiree Scott | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    M- Chelsea Stewart | USA / UCLA
    F- Chelsea Buckland | USA / Oregon State University
    F- Christina Julien | CAN / Ottawa Fury
    F- Amélia Pietrangelo | USA / Rutgers University
    F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Western New York Flash
    F- Melissa Tancredi | SWE / Piteå IF
    Guest
    Fans in Vancouver and Montreal won't have to wait long to renew hostilities.
    Major League Soccer announced the first national broadcasts of the 2012 opening weekend, and among those matches is a meeting between the Whitecaps and the Impact. TSN & RDS will broadcast the first MLS game between the long-time rivals, set to take place at 6pmET/3pmPT at BC Place in Vancouver.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Montreal will follow the season opener with the club's first ever MLS home match at Olympic Stadium the following weekend, versus an opponent to be named later. One can only imagine the atmosphere at that St. Patrick's Day game, especially if Toronto FC is involved.
    Speaking of the Reds, there is still no word on that team's MLS season opener. Toronto does know that it'll kick off its home campaign on March 24th at BMO Field, and that the club's Champions League quarterfinal games versus Los Angeles will happen on March 7th and 14th.
    The full MLS schedule is expected to be released before the New Year.
    Rudi Schuller contributes Toronto FC, MLS, and Canadian national team content to Canadian Soccer News. He is MLSsoccer.com's beat writer for all things concerning Canada's men's national teams, and he has spent time as soccer editor for Reuters' online publications. He has also contributed to Goal.com and other soccer media. Follow Rudi on Twitter, @RudiSchuller.
    Guest

    Whitecaps reject WPS model

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    With WPS needing a sixth team to assure itself of USSF D1 sanctioning for 2012, some have wondered why one of the most successful W-League sides, the Vancouver Whitecaps, do not make the step up to the highest league.
    In the past, the Whitecaps have expressed their commitment to the women’s game. They have said many times that they are interested in having their women’s side play in the highest level possible.
    It’s a reasonable assumption then to think that the Caps might be willing to jump up a level a little earlier than they intended to in order to save WPS – even though they indicated earlier this year that they would be playing 2012 in the W-League.
    Last night on It’s Called Football, I put the question to Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi. The exchange went like this:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    It doesn’t take much speculating to conclude from that answer that the Caps are absolutely uninterested in joining
    WPS – not now, not ever.
    If one of the most committed organizations to the women’s game is rejecting the WPS model as it currently stands, well, that should tell you something.
    As we wrote Sunday, it’s time for women’s soccer to get real and get down to the hard work of growing the sport from the ground up. There are no shortcuts to getting a stable and fully professional league.
    Guest
    So last week I let the whole world know the upcoming round of Canadian Soccer Association elections will be covered as a public process, regardless of how private some within the organization might wish them to be.
    Interview requests had gone in to both CSA vice-presidents – Victor Montagliani and Rob Newman – and there was every reason to believe a useful, friendly, inside look at the implementation of governance change.
    Ah, but free publicity’s not free if it’s public, as an old Max Webster song used to say.
    My opening story – and its sharply worded warnings to the Old Boys Network – has, for the moment at least, brought down a cone of silence on Metcalfe Street.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    ---
    Good afternoon Ben,
    Following this weekend’s Board of Directors meeting, I was asked to hold off on any media interviews around the new governance for now. There’s a fact sheet in preparation (which I will share with you as soon as I receive a copy) and once this is ready we will look at organizing some follow up interviews with the media.
    Please do not hesitate to call me should you wish to discuss this further.
    Regards
    Michéle Dion
    Communications Manager | Gértante des communications
    Canadian Soccer Association | l’Association canadienne de soccer
    ---
    Two reactions to this: charitable, and frank:
    On the charitable side, clearly they weren’t expecting this kind of scrutiny, and certainly not this soon. And please don’t think this new development speaks for either Newman or Montagliani. This is an organization-wide control-the-message edict – imposed from above – perfectly reasonable when you get caught sleeping in the open and the bats show up.
    We are clearly promised a fact sheet, and the possibility of follow-up interviews.
    But frankly, this is a poor start. The contrast between last week’s open chattiness and this sudden early-December frost is palpable. But, as stated and as always, it doesn’t speak for everyone involved.
    Yes, there was a defiant tone to last week’s Onward! But it was only aimed at selected Old Boys. Canadian Soccer News continues to be a loyal advocate of CSA reform. We’re just not going to let it happen offstage, in the dark, in a back room somewhere.
    If we can’t get you this story on the record, we’ll get you this story off the record.
    The next step is finding out if the five-man nominations committee has been selected. These are the people who will recruit outside help for the six new appointed CSA board positions. These board members will bring professional expertise – soccer, business, marketing, fund-raising – in areas that badly need a bolster.
    All we know this morning is that the committee will consist of two CSA directors and three outsiders. The two directors will not be able to stand for CSA office in the spring.
    Who these people are – and what they bring to the table – is on the runway, cleared for takeoff. It would be very good to get this info directly from Rob Newman, who was head of the CSA governance committee that brought forward the encouraging changes that will be implemented in the spring.
    The door is open, sir. I accept that this is a political game, but the soccer fans of Canada really want to hear from you.
    All these stories are is a bid for transparency. As long as the old CSA board exists – and however well they’ve done recently – scrutiny is not only advisable, it’s mandatory.
    I look forward to working with the CSA, uniting their new governance structure with the higher hopes and aspirations of the Canadian game.
    Me to them: This process will go on anyway, but would be so much better with your willing and welcome contribution.
    Onward!
    Guest
    The worst kept secret so far in this offseason has been the addition of 34 year old Young-Pyo Lee to the Vancouver Whitecaps roster. There is an asterisk in the headline of this story because it is yet to be formally announced by the club. However news broke early this morning via both Reuters and FIFA.com that the transfer has in fact gone through. Hell he already told the world himself via Twitter.
    In the past few days stories have crept out from sources like The Vancouver Sun's Bruce Constantineau, that the former Korean international was in town to talk contracts with last years worst team in the league. Ben and Duane brought up Young-Pyo's twitter account on Monday's It's Called Football podcast with Bob Lenarduzzi, and he laughed off the question as best he could. Now it's official, even if they are not willing to admit it.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Young-Pyo does not seem to have any qualms about his new squads results from last year stating- "I am going to play hard and help the team post a good record next season." While you could only expect a professional to throw out such a typical cliche, in all reality he is likely being brought in as a role model and a leader. Part of the It's Called Football interview got a little bit garbled, but it sounded like (or more likely I am guessing) Bobby was mentioning how he is being brought in to fill a leadership role in a similar way to Takashi Hirano was in the Pre-MLS era.
    ...but then "The Fear" sets in...
    What if he's just another Rafa Marquez? Over-rated and over paid?
    The Marquez comparison brings up another interesting question, will the World Cup hero be given DP money? Lenarduzzi again refused to comment, so as not to ruin the surprise, but he did mention that they DO still have a DP slot left. So IF they did sign player of that quality they could potentially use a DP spot.
    The attack minded defender will become the second member of the Whitecaps back line with Champions League experience. The confusing situation that has come of all this is where will he play? Traditionally a left back, the Whitecaps are already fairly deep at the position. They already have Alain Rochat and Jordan Harvey on the roster, however towards the end of the season Harvey was playing more of a left wing role. He would drop back as Rochat routinely pushed forward. While strong, creative, and occasionally remarkable down the left flank, Vancouver were brutally victimized on the right side time and again. So who will be the second left back playing out of position?
    When he arrived at the airport this weekend he was greeted by club representatives and a small group of supporters. He has been quoted as saying "I am happy with the atmosphere in Vancouver, and I was also impressed with the management's professionalism" but if he turns out to be an utter disappointment it will not be long before he realizes how quickly the atmosphere can change at BC Place, and how quickly the fans will lose patience. One only need to look as far as Mustapha Jarju to find a "big signing" that the fans have turned their backs on. In the same breath though Vancouver faithful can be incredibly forgiving. Take for example Long Tan and the cult following he developed, simply by having an entertaining name and a never give up attitude.
    According to Young Pyo's agency the deal will be for 1 year with an option to extend for another season. Are you glad to see that the club is showing a little hesitation in signing a big name out of a rubbish league to a big deal a la Jarju? Is this a publicity stunt to take advantage of Vancouver's heavy Asian population? Is Lee Young-Pyo going to be the real deal and destroy the opposition?
    Guest

    Impact add Westlake

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    The Montreal Impact made a roster move last Monday, signing NASL roster player Ian Westlake to a MLS contract.
    Westlake is the fourth NASL Impact to make the jump up with the club. He joins midfielders Hassoun Camara and Sinisa Ubiparipovic and goalkeeper Evan Bush.
    The Englishman scored two goals and started 13 games for the Impact in 2011. He previously played for Brighton & Hove Albion, Cheltenham Town, Oldham Athletic, and the Wycombe Wanderers.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    Borman claimed by Revs

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Danleigh Borman is on his way to New England after being selected by the Revs in the first stage of the re-entry draft today.
    With all three Canadian sides skipping the stage, Borman’s selection was the only relevant news for Canadian fans from the draft.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The fullback will be joining his third team of the calendar year. He is expected to make $44,100 in 2012.
    Although Borman was a consistent starter for the Reds when he first came to Toronto as part of the Dwayne De Rosario trade, he fell out of favour with Aron Winter as the season progressed. It was highly unlikely that he would have been back with Toronto, even if he had not been selected.
    Two other players were picked up in stage 1, which requires clubs to honour the terms of the player’s option year. Salt Lake claimed Arturo Alvarez and Carlos Mendes is on his way to Columbus.
    Stage 2 of the draft goes next week. In the second stage, teams are claiming exclusive bargaining rights with the player. Any player that remains unselected after stage 2 is free to talk to any club in the league.
    Guest
    Today, we're joined by president of the Vancouver Whitecaps Bob Lenarduzzi to talk about his new book, look back on the year that was for Vancouver and to gives us a peak on what's coming in the days ahead regarding player signings.
    We'll also get into what's behind the departure of TFC Academy director Stuart Neely, glean what we can from the latest interview from JDG2 and check in with Ben Knight on his CSA election investigation.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <embed src="http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config={embedded:true,videoFile:'http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/download/2540/27748/dec52011final.mp3',initialScale:'scale',controlBarBackgroundColor:'0x778899',autoBuffering:false,loop:false,autoPlay:false}" width="400" height="25" scale="fit" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>
    We're still working out the details for our next live mailbag show, so stay tuned.
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