Critics say ‘absolutely no change’ in Canada Soccer despite scandals

T estimony by newly elected Canada Soccer president Charmaine Crooks has been called “revisionist” by a former board member after her appearance in front of members of parliament investigating sexual misconduct within sport.

Crooks joined Concacaf president Victor Montagliani and other former Canada Soccer presidents and executives as they faced criticism from the Canadian parliament’s Heritage Committee for poor governance and failing to take allegations of abuse seriously.

Montagliani and former presidents Steve Reed and Nick Bontis provided testimony during months of hearings as the committee investigates abuse and accountability in Canadian sport. Concacaf, the governing body of soccer in the Caribbean and North and Central America, is led by Montagliani. Bontis was elected to its council earlier this year.

Crooks’s testimony focused on multiple issues, including her role as Canada Soccer vice-president in 2019 when allegations that Bob Birarda, a former national youth team coach, had sexually harassed players in 2008 became public. His subsequent departure was characterized as a mutual parting of ways, no mention was made of the allegations against him and he was given Canada Soccer’s “best wishes”. Birarda continued to work in women’s youth soccer and was later convicted of sexual offenses against players unrelated to his time with Canada Soccer.

The 2008 allegations were known at the highest levels of Canada Soccer – including by Montagliani and former general secretary Peter Montopoli, who is currently an executive with the 2026 World Cup organizing committee. Montagliani has previously cited legal advice as a reason for Canada Soccer’s failure to disclose the circumstances behind Birarda’s exit.

“What happened