Fresh salvoes of attacks were launched Friday in the dispute between Canada Soccer and the players of its men’s team, the latter accusing the association of retaliation by depriving them of friendlies in September.
In a statement posted on social media, the players said they were “extremely disappointed” that Canada Soccer was “wasting a development opportunity just two months before the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-finals”.
The representatives of the maple leaf believe they have made a very reasonable offer, in particular by making concessions on hot topics of the conflict, including compensation for the last World Cup in Qatar. According to them, however, Canada Soccer would have “threatened to stop organizing matches until we agree to reduce our offer even more. »
Canada Soccer responded by denying everything.
“Canada Soccer has never stated or implied that it will not be participating in the November international match window,” a spokesperson said. Any claim to that effect is simply not true. »
Last week, acting general secretary Jason deVos claimed the association had tried to find opponents for September, to no avail.
“The challenges we have with our financial restrictions are, I believe, well documented,” he hinted in an interview with The Canadian Press. We are not in a situation where we are able to spend considerable sums to ensure that we have opponents. »
The players again pointed to the agreement that Canada Soccer has reached with Canadian Soccer Business (CSB). The latter is responsible for marketing Canada Soccer’s product on and off the field and receives all sponsorship and media rights revenues from the national teams.
Canada Soccer receives 3 or 4 million per year under this agreement, which it is trying to renegotiate.
“As a team and as a nation, we are seeing the results of the financial mismanagement and siphoning off of key assets from Canada Soccer through the CSB deal,” the players said.
CF Montreal midfielder Samuel Piette was quick to comment on the situation on Friday as part of his team’s training session.
He reiterated the importance of playing matches during international windows and said he was disappointed that this situation broke the momentum of the last World Cup.
“We’re putting a bit of pressure on the Canadian association to not be the only country in the world that doesn’t have a game,” Piette said. Especially when you are a country hosting the next World Cup. It’s hard to accept as players and as a team.
“We all know that the main reason is this agreement with CSB. It’s frustrating because the players have no control over it, the fact that the association’s hands are tied and they can’t organize games. »
Canada, along with Costa Rica, Mexico and the United States, went straight to the quarter-finals of the Nations League. These will be home and away matches. The four nations that advance to the semi-finals will also qualify for the Copa America.