'Misunderstood' Canada Soccer Business clarifies role, offers help to national teams

Canada Soccer Business, the little-known entity that represents Canada Soccer's corporate partnerships and broadcast rights among other assets, is tired of getting slagged.

And it says it wants to help the Canadian men's and women's teams, who have lambasted both Canada Soccer and its deal with the CSB during increasingly testy labour negotiations.

"The CSB has been misunderstood," said Mark Noonan, who doubles as CEO of Canada Soccer Business and commissioner of the Canadian Premier League. "Probably we haven't done a good job of telling people what CSB is all about — the ways that we are contributing to the growth of soccer in Canada and the investments that we've made.

The CSB essentially markets Canada's soccer product, on the field and off, via broadcast and sponsorship agreements. It pays the governing body a set amount each year with the rest helping fund the Canadian Premier League.

The long-term deal came with very few public details. And CSB has come under fire in recent weeks, with the Canadian men's team taking square aim in an open letter Friday.

"Canada Soccer's principal revenue streams have been in large part diverted to Canada Soccer Business to the benefit of the owners of for-profit minor league professional soccer teams," it said in reference to the Canadian Premier League, which is now entering its fifth season.

"How Canada Soccer is allocating or using funds is unclear and cloaked in secrecy," the men added.

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