Alberta Soccer Dispute Continues ON

[fishman]

Wow. This is a slippery slope to nowhere good.

[jpg75]

That doesn't sound very legal. Not that i'm a lwayer, but you guys should go to the courts and get an injunction of some kind...

[oc64]

It is such an embarrassment to soccer in Alberta. This should end up in the courts very quickly now.

[fishman]

I am surprised at the general lack of interest in this thread from people outside Alberta (my apologies to those that have replied from outside the Province).

This issue - how the game is governed in Canada, and the lengths to which some individuals will go to retain their hold on power - speaks volumes about why soccer continues to flounder in Canada. People were so keen about the reforms proposed at the CSA AGM...well, that will go up in smoke if Charpentier, Traficante, Kern and Innes win in their attempts to oust Billings, et al.

The hegemony enjoyed by the proverbial Ol' Boys Club will continue on ad naseum unless the results of the Special AGM stand. And anyone can plainly see the lengths to which the Charpentier crew will go to keep their positions...they have brought in the Stormtroopers, for God's sake. Can you imagine if this was happening with a Provincial hockey association?

Soccer lovers in Canada should be VERY, VERY concerned about what is happening here.

[kj52]

I am surprised at the general lack of interest in this thread from people outside Alberta (my apologies to those that have replied from outside the Province).

This issue - how the game is governed in Canada, and the lengths to which some individuals will go to retain their hold on power - speaks volumes about why soccer continues to flounder in Canada. People were so keen about the reforms proposed at the CSA AGM...well, that will go up in smoke if Charpentier, Traficante, Kern and Innes win in their attempts to oust Billings, et al.

The hegemony enjoyed by the proverbial Ol' Boys Club will continue on ad naseum unless the results of the Special AGM stand. And anyone can plainly see the lengths to which the Charpentier crew will go to keep their positions...they have brought in the Stormtroopers, for God's sake. Can you imagine if this was happening with a Provincial hockey association?

Soccer lovers in Canada should be VERY, VERY concerned about what is happening here.

Check out the new thread in the Women's national teams section re: time for a headshake at CSA about the U17 girls. A perfect example of why the CSA cannot continue in it's present form, the old boy's club doesn't care about soccer in Canada - all they care about is their own privileges and perks.

[oc64]

I am surprised at the general lack of interest in this thread from people outside Alberta (my apologies to those that have replied from outside the Province).

This issue - how the game is governed in Canada, and the lengths to which some individuals will go to retain their hold on power - speaks volumes about why soccer continues to flounder in Canada. People were so keen about the reforms proposed at the CSA AGM...well, that will go up in smoke if Charpentier, Traficante, Kern and Innes win in their attempts to oust Billings, et al.

The hegemony enjoyed by the proverbial Ol' Boys Club will continue on ad naseum unless the results of the Special AGM stand. And anyone can plainly see the lengths to which the Charpentier crew will go to keep their positions...they have brought in the Stormtroopers, for God's sake. Can you imagine if this was happening with a Provincial hockey association?

Soccer lovers in Canada should be VERY, VERY concerned about what is happening here.

Beautifully put

[jpg75]

I have an idea: Hire your own set of security guards and have them battle it out!

[oc64]

I have an idea: Hire your own set of security guards and have them battle it out!

That would be funny to watch but horribly unfair to either set of security guards. My preference would be to see a cage match between the two fueding boards.

[oc64]

What I would really like to hear is someone on the side of the Charpentier led board defend their decisions and actions. Perhaps I am completely biased and off track in my thinking.

If their actions are justified they should be easily explained and defendable.

[fishman]

I am not an advocate for either side. But what is clear is that the ASA has been dysfunctional since Gary Sampley left. The number of Executive Directors that have paraded through the door is an embarrassment, and helps to illustrate the level of undermining that takes place.

Not coincidentally, Mr. Charpentier's involvement roughly corresponds with this timeline of unrest.

However, one should concede that Mr. Billings is a relative neophyte when it comes to soccer in Alberta, and isn't what you would call a strong soccer man. Unless I am mistaken, he is a well-intentioned volunteer that has risen through the ranks from his district (Tri-County?) to where he finds himself in a fight with individuals that have between them over a hundred years in Alberta soccer. I am not sure that Billings is the best person to champion the cause of reform, but I guess he's all there is. Until now, no one else was willing to take on the fight.

It will be very, very interesting to see how quickly this comes to a head.