Dave McEwan, whose granddaughter was a member of Central City, said she will move to another soccer club.DARRYL DYCK
Nearly 3,000 Surrey youth soccer players don't know if they'll be able to take the pitch next month, after their club was suspended amid allegations its management misused funds and attempted to manipulate voter eligibility for its annual general meeting.
And though disciplinary hearings for the Central City Breakers Football Club aren't scheduled to be held until next week, family members of some of the players say they've already registered with other soccer clubs.
The Surrey Metro Soccer Association and the South District Girls Soccer Association announced that Central City was suspended last month. The announcement came shortly after Amar Bains, a former Central City board member, sent a letter to the two associations accusing the club's executive committee and board of "abuse of authority."
The letter alleged the club provided money to another soccer club, because seven members of the Central City board were also on the board of the second club. The letter went on to allege Central City delayed its annual general meeting to exclude some members from voting.
A club spokesman has denied any wrongdoing.
Elton Anderson, who coaches his son's team, said Wednesday they'll be leaving Central City for the Guildford Athletic Club.
"It's easiest for me to just recommend to my [team's] parents, at least for this year, let's move ourselves away from the conflict," he said in an interview.
Mr. Anderson said he attempted to get into the July 29 annual general meeting, but he and several of the parents from his team were for some reason not allowed in.
"It's just nonsense," he said.
Mr. Anderson said his team had already registered with Central City for September. He said at least seven parents who paid early will now have to seek refunds.
Mr. Anderson said he believes many of the players who may be affected by the Central City suspension will register with Surrey Football Club, which shares a facility.
Dave McEwan, whose granddaughter was a member of Central City, said she, too, will move to another soccer club. He declined to identify which one.
Mr. McEwan was a member of the Central City board, but was removed at the annual general meeting. He was not one of the seven members who was also on the board of another soccer club.
When asked why he was removed from the Central City board, Mr. McEwan said, "Because they don't toe the line."
He said he initially joined the board to "help the community and the kids."
"It's not like I have a personal gain out of it. I don't play those games," he said in an interview.
Central City, in a written statement earlier this week, said "moving funds to a non-sanctioned club to enable players to participate in summer soccer" has long been done.
Garry Sangha, identified in the statement as the club's outgoing executive director, wrote, "We have done nothing wrong as all decisions have been consistent with general practice."
Mr. Sangha said the club's main goal is to offer 2,800 youth the opportunity to play soccer.
"We sincerely hope that our members will be given the chance to return to what they love doing ahead of the new season," he wrote.
Mr. Sangha did not respond to an interview request Wednesday.
Mr. Sangha had called on the BC Soccer Association to intervene in the matter. A spokesman for the BC Soccer Association, however, said it will only step in if an appeal is filed after next week's disciplinary hearings.
The BC Soccer Association spokesman said it would work with the other associations to ensure youth aren't left off the soccer pitch, but there are still procedures and hearings that need to take place.