Canada Introduces National Safe Sport Registry as BC Soccer Faces Legal Action
The Canadian government has launched a national public registry for individuals banned or suspended from sports due to misconduct, including criminal convictions for sexual assault, maltreatment of minors, and grooming. This initiative, known as the Canadian Safe Sport Program Public Registry, is published by Sport Integrity Canada, a government-funded body, and marks the first phase in a plan to make such disclosures mandatory for all Canadian sports organizations.
Registry Details and Initial Phase
The registry aims to increase transparency and accountability within the sports community by publicly listing sanctioned individuals. Currently, participation is voluntary for national sports organizations, but officials emphasize that this is just the beginning of a broader effort to protect athletes and prevent harm. Signy Arnason, executive director of Safe Sport for Sport Integrity Canada, stated that the registry is critical for raising public awareness and limiting opportunities for individuals to cause harm within the system.
Arnason highlighted that the globalization of sport makes this registry particularly important, as individuals can move between countries without accountability. For example, the registry includes George Barber, an athletics coach banned by Athletics Canada in 2015 after it was discovered he had a 2007 criminal conviction for having sex with a student while working at a U.S. high school.
BC Soccer Legal Claim and Historical Cases
Concurrently, BC Soccer, the provincial governing body for soccer in British Columbia, is facing a legal claim from multiple former players who were coached by Bob Birarda. Birarda, a former Canada Soccer and Vancouver Whitecaps coach, pleaded guilty in 2022 to three counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual touching involving players under his care. He was banned by Canada Soccer in 2022, but there was no public acknowledgment of this ban by the national organization or BC Soccer at the time.
The former players, who provided evidence leading to Birarda's criminal conviction and jail sentence, have made a financial claim against BC Soccer. According to sources familiar with the case, BC Soccer has made a "lowball" counter offer. The organization's 2024 financial report references "claims in respect of historical events," noting that the potential loss is not determinable. BC Soccer has not filed a response to the claim and declined to comment when approached.
Participation and Future Mandates
The Canadian Safe Sport program has been adopted by 93 national sports organizations, with 80 voluntarily providing information to the registry, including Canada Soccer, Athletics Canada, and Rugby Canada. However, eight organizations are still assessing requests for information, and five have indicated they will not participate or have not responded. Notably, Hockey Canada, which has faced scrutiny over its handling of abuse cases, does not have any information on the registry.
Arnason advocates for making the registry mandatory, citing recommendations from the Future of Sport in Canada Commission, which suggested that funding should be withheld from non-participating organizations. She stressed that this move is essential to address serious issues in sports and protect athletes from harm, both domestically and internationally.
Legal and Ethical Implications
The legal action against BC Soccer underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing historical abuse in sports. The organization is being represented by Vancouver law firm Alexander Holburn, which includes Bruno De Vita, deputy chair of FIFA's Ethics Committee and an arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as a partner. DWF Group, representing the claimants, did not respond to requests for comment.
This development highlights the need for robust systems to ensure accountability and support for victims, as Canada continues to refine its approach to safe sport initiatives.
