Canada Soccer threatens B.C. Soccer with sanctions for underrepresenting youth in its voting structure

The B.C. Soccer Association (BCSA) is warning players across the province that it could face sanctions from Canada Soccer later this year because of its "non-equitable" voting structure.

B.C. Soccer is the only provincial soccer body that gives adult leagues and youth districts an equal share of votes, despite having around 15,000 players in its 11 adult leagues and about 95,000 players in its 15 youth districts. 

When Jaya Punia and her father Mandhir heard the news in a video posted by the BCSA on Monday, they wondered whether Richmond United — the team Jaya captains and Mandhir coaches — would still be able to compete at this weekend's U18 A Cup Provincial Championships.

The two described the last couple of days as a roller-coaster. First, they heard games and tournaments could be cancelled. Then they learned Canada Soccer had given the BCSA until November to make the necessary changes.

"I'm super relieved," said Jaya. "It's our last tournament that we have together as a team before everyone goes their separate ways," adding her team had already missed out on two seasons of practice, competitions and recruiting opportunities due to the pandemic.

BCSA President Gayle Statton said the changes required by Canada Soccer are part of a long-term overhaul of soccer governance across the country that kicked off in 2014. Adult leagues and youth districts in B.C. have been on equal footing for 24 years.

"The voting representation is 50/50, but the stakeholder representation is more like 85/15," said Statton. "This is not an ask. This is a mandate."

In a general assembly of B.C. members on June 1, a bylaw amendment that would give the youth districts a more equitable share of voting powers didn't receive the 65 per cent of votes