OTTAWA –
Canada’s sports minister says the federal government is exploring the tools it could use to investigate Canada Soccer, including the possibility of an audit of the organization’s finances.
Pascale St-Onge says a decision on whether a review will take place will be announced when the government is ready.
The government had previously ordered an audit of Hockey Canada to investigate whether public money was used to settle sexual assault cases.
The move comes after several former Canada Soccer presidents and players testified before the Standing Committee on Heritage, which is studying safe sport.
Former Canada Soccer president Earl Cochrane testified before the committee, defending a business agreement that allows Canada Soccer Business, an independent company, to oversee and retain national teams’ marketing and broadcast rights in exchange for an annual payment to the soccer association .
Canadian women’s soccer captain Christine Sinclair also made a damning indictment of Canada Soccer before the committee in March, citing a “culture of secrecy and obstruction.”
She also spoke of the preference given to the men’s national team, even though the women’s team has been more successful in recent years.
This report was first published May 2, 2023 by The Canadian Press.
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