Canadian MPs summon senior soccer officials as they investigate response to abuse

Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has been summoned to appear at an investigation by Canadian elected government officials into business dealings by Canada Soccer and how the organization has responded to sexual abuse within the sport.

A summons has also been issued to another former Canada Soccer president, Nick Bontis. He was elected to Concacaf’s Council in February as its representative for North America just days before resigning from his position at Canada Soccer amid a labor dispute with the women’s national team. Sean Heffernan, Canada Soccer’s chief financial officer, has also been issued with a summons.

The move comes as one of the four women who filed police reports that led to the conviction of Bob Birarda spoke for the first time since the former Canada national youth team coach was jailed for sexual assaults he committed against players. The woman called the lack of accountability for top soccer officials who she says failed to protect young players “offensive and grotesque”.

Montagliani, who is also a Fifa vice-president, and Bontis have been summoned in relation to various senior roles they have held with the organization over several decades. A Heritage Committee administrative official said they are expected to face questions “not later than 31 March” as Canadian Member of Parliament and committee member Anthony Housefather underlined the significance of the summonses.

“It’s not an invitation,” said Housefather. “It is actually a summons. Normally we invite witnesses. We don’t summon them. In this case, they have to appear. It will be relatively soon provided they are in Canada. I assume that considering they both live in Canada and want to be able to come back to Canada if they are not here that it