The former Whitecaps players are expected to release a statement in the next 48 hours supported by PFACan that will include a demand that any Whitecaps or Canada Soccer executive involved in the departures of Birarda and Busby, but who chose to misrepresent the reasons behind their exits, be fired. “We need to see a thorough investigation.” “MLS will only look after its own interests,” Enoch said. Busby denies the allegations.Īfter the Guardian reported the allegations last week, MLS said it intended to launch an investigation. In a Guardian investigation published last week, Enoch alleged her former coach Hubert Busby Jr attempted to pressure her for sex during a recruitment process spanning 20. “I welcome the interest of Major League Soccer in these issues but we don’t need MLS to be in charge of this investigation,” said Malloree Enoch. He is out on bail and has yet to enter a plea. Mr Montagliani believes that he and his fellow board members at the time followed the appropriate steps to support the CSA with this very serious matter.”īirarda was arrested in December 2020 and faces six counts of sexual exploitation, two counts of sexual assault and one count of child luring, involving allegations spanning 20 years from 1988 to 2008. All board members subsequently approved a recommendation to terminate the coach’s employment. “Following that independent investigation, the board was provided with a summary of the ombudswoman’s findings, which included confirmation that inappropriate language was included in text messages. The board, including Mr Montagliani, took these allegations seriously and unanimously approved the appointment of an independent ombudswoman to investigate the matter,” read the statement. “The board was in late summer 2008 informed by the CSA general secretariat of the allegations regarding the inappropriate text messages.
In a statement this week, Concacaf said it welcomed a report on the 2008 investigation into Birarda.
Montagliani also serves as a Fifa vice-president.Īt the time, an internal investigation into Birarda’s behavior resulted in Canada Soccer and Whitecaps stating the coach had left his roles by “mutual agreement”, yet he continued to coach girls’ youth soccer. Birarda was head coach of Canada’s under-20 women’s national team and the Whitecaps women’s team while Montagliani was director of national teams.
It is understood the players this week will also demand Concacaf suspends its president, Victor Montagliani, until an independent investigation is completed into events surrounding Canada Soccer’s failure to deal with separate allegations against former Whitecaps coach Bob Birarda in 2008.
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The players, who represented Vancouver Whitecaps in the 20 seasons, are supported by Canada’s Professional Footballers Association (PFACan) in a call for key club executives to be fired. Former Vancouver Whitecaps women’s team players fear a proposed investigation by Major League Soccer into the club’s response to allegations of sexual misconduct will be a whitewash and fail to adequately address multiple instances of wrongdoing.