It's not a huge shock that Burnley defender David Edgar would be called to represent Canada against Belarus on March 20th: Les Rouges aren't overburdened with options; MLS will have kicked off, so we're looking at a mostly Euro-based team; and Edgar just got his first senior cap as a sub against Greece last month. Edgar may not be getting a lot of first-team action, but he's fit and willing, and that's all we can ask for.
So it makes sense that he be called.
What doesn't make sense is that the CSA hasn't officially announced the game yet.
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The friendly, which does appear on FIFA's website, seems slated to take place in Anatalya, Turkey (presumably because Belarus is too cold/crappy/corrupt this time of year). But how can we be sure?
In fairness, we can't be totally sure that Edgar has been called: the info initially came from a Burnley fan website, and there's no attribution or quotes. But they do seem pretty sure of the whole thing, and that counts for something, doesn't it? No? Well, whatever – Edgar himself has confirmed the call up. The Kitchener, Ont., native tweeted this thanks for all the congratulatory messages he's received: "Thanks for all the msgs of congrats on the call up! #appreciated." The CSA, of course, has said nothing.
Either way – that is, Edgar or no Edgar – since the game is about two weeks away, isn't it about time the CSA said something about it? Metcalfe St. has yet to respond to inquiries (mine and, I'm sure, a lot of other people's) about whether the game is going to happen or not. More info on that if/when Canadian Soccer News gets word from the CSA.
As an added twist to the tale, FIFA is busy investigating last month's pair of international friendlies in Anatalya for suspicions of match-fixing. Matches between Latvia and Bolivia (res. 2-1), and Estonia v Bulgaria (res. 2-2) raised flags – and the objections of all four of the respective football associations – for being settled exclusively on penalties. In total, eight penalties were taken (one having been retaken, possibly for dubious reasons) providing all seven goals.
It could be that these developments have stopped the CSA from officially announcing the match, pending some look-see into the intentions of whosoever brought Canada and Belarus together for the friendly: third-party agencies are often used to arrange friendlies, and if Canada used the same agency as Latvia et al., the CSA is right to be wary.
In the meantime, Canadian soccer fans are keen to get some word as to whether or not the match is on. So too, I'm sure, is David Edgar.