Local Somalian soccer group says 'discriminatory' rules left players sidelined - CBC News · Posted: Jan 24, 2023 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: January 24
Have you ever heard of redlining? Separate but equal? This is the worst kind of prejudice and discrimination. The one whitewashed with "rules and regulations" intended to rationalize exclusion of one group. I didn't want to say it... I didn't want to believe it, but here we are, the Great White North, where soccer organizations obviously have [allegedly] a tiny racist minority of people, well placed in powerful roles within the governing organizations or within large clubs with substantial financial clout. And even worst, a larger complacent majority, unwittingly or disinterested just following along.
From the local level, the regional, provincial & national level you have had nothing but the same stream of people with the same stream of thinking: privileged, status-quo mentality, implementing and enforcing decades old, chaotic, contradictory, financially detrimental and exclusionary participation rules, and then call it "sanctioned soccer". I don't see the City of Ottawa emphasizing "drink from your sanctioned water supply"? I don't hear our local BIA saying "use only your sanctioned business"; your local government "vote for your sanctioned politician"? Or funnier yet, the local cartel saying "better use your sanctioned cocaine!" Ludicrous! Why; because they know there is (quite large) "unsanctioned" soccer participation. These same self proclaimed proponents of "Soccer for all!"; actually (a) have made no effort to bring in the larger community (in fact they are losing membership), (b) made it exceptionally difficult to do so; and worst of all (c) resorted to KGB style policing of Websites? Really? We have mentioned this exact same practice in previous posts. Have the "governing organizations" not learned anything from recent national embarrassing news?
We, and many others, have been complaining of lack of transparency, clear participation rules, disproportionate financial penalties on smaller clubs; and on the inverse a "whack-a-mole spaghetti chaos" of intertwining and contradictory rules between levels of governance, between governing regions, and between uncooperative paid employees of so called not-for-profit Soccer organizations. Complaints for years! (Decades I am sure, if we look at other past immigration to Canada). But let's not steal SURADs thunder. They deserve to be there with the best, and be proud to be where and when they can. By their own grit.
The greatest obstacle & struggle is the frustrating & suffocating silence of the majority.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/surad-soccer-eastern-ontario-ottawa-futsal-rule-1.6714931
ReplyDeleteSame old chaotic circus from the governing organizations.
Example non-profits putting profits over members
ReplyDeletehttps://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS81NG5BR2NJbA/episode/NGMxZTU1MzItYTA1YS00MTIyLTg3N2MtNTk4MTBjOTczMDgx?ep=14
ha ha Umbro can, but Surad can't? Neither is a member of the OEDSA. Obvious, logical!
ReplyDeleteI could be wrong, but I honestly don't believe EODSA is doing this out of prejudice, but my experience is that they're trying to appease certain "not-for profit clubs" by preventing academies from having their names and logos on jerseys. It comes down to trying to limit academies in how they promote themselves, and trying to protect these "not-for-profit" clubs from potentially seeing reductions in revenue (and in turn, the "fees" they pay to their administrators). Still pretty messed up.
DeleteEven if true, EODSA is doing so much harm here. I've always admired what Surad has been doing for the Somali community - many of those kids don't have things easy and as with anyone, the opportunity to play organized sports can provide an escape from other issues, help develop confidence and self-respect, etc. And for their community, it's a great opportunity to build pride and be able to commit to something bigger. A real shame, and the EODSA and those pushing them for these restrictions should be ashamed of themselves.
Deletedisgusting!
ReplyDeletehttps://fairnessinsoccer.blogspot.com/2023/01/for-clarity-exact-targeted-wording.html
ReplyDelete...whose priority was in mind when these very targeted rules were presented? Are we so naive to believe that [quote from CBC article] "It's just far easier to have a simple rule … and make it universal for everyone..."?
"Universal" enough to cover alcohol, tobacco, political, religious influences? And distinguish it from social, cultural, neighbourhood community and commercial entities? Or to satisfy the pocket books of financially interested clubs by excluding others?
This is shameful. EODSA needs to stop using "the rules" as the justification for systemic racism and look at the individual concerns, challenges, speak with ALL stakeholders and act like a modern organization that is willing to do the right thing, not the "easy thing", and embrace change where needed. < That's even their own words about "easy", which is only one part of what makes this so shameful.
ReplyDeleteA professional soccer player says: https://twitter.com/itsJoDavid/status/1620150906212990978?s=20
ReplyDeleteSoccer in Canada is a laughing stock. Back in 2010, “there is still work to do” was a popular statement in local Ottawa soccer circles... pitifully laughable.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-canada-soccer-to-blame-for-womens-national-team-players-dispute/
"Canada Soccer is “committed to a path.” It knows that “there is still work to do.” (Whenever anyone who’s ever written this line straight-facedly gets to the end of work, they should let me know. I’d like to get there, too.)"