The Canadian Soccer Players91裸聊视频� Association, which represents the Canadian women91裸聊视频檚 team, has filed a $40-million lawsuit against 15 current and former board members of Canada Soccer alleging 91裸聊视频渘egligence and breach of fiduciary duty.91裸聊视频�
The association91裸聊视频檚 statement of claim was filed Tuesday in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
At the heart of the lawsuit is the controversial 2018 agreement Canada Soccer signed with Canadian Soccer Business, which gives Canada Soccer91裸聊视频檚 marketing and sponsorship rights over to the CSB in exchange for an annual fee.
The lawsuit alleges the CSB deal 91裸聊视频渉as created and continues to create serious risk to the ability of Canada Soccer to carry out its mandate.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭he 2018 Canada Soccer board knew or should have known that the CSB agreement would, at best, deprive Canada Soccer of revenue that could be spent on development, and at worst, could compromise Canada Soccer91裸聊视频檚 ability to operate as a going concern,91裸聊视频� says the lawsuit.
It continues by saying: 91裸聊视频淚n approving the CSB agreement, the 2018 Canada Soccer directors failed to demonstrate prudence, good faith, and any reasonable belief that such approval was in the best interests of Canada Soccer.91裸聊视频�
The statement of claim says under the CSB agreement, Canada Soccer receives a fixed annual fee of approximately
$3 million to $4 million 91裸聊视频渢hat escalates only slightly over the initial nine-year years of the CSB agreement 91裸聊视频� and not at all during the 10-year renewal period.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淎ll other revenue generated by CSB in respect of the national teams is retained by CSB,91裸聊视频� it adds.
The lawsuit alleges the 2018 Canada Soccer board 91裸聊视频渁cted not only negligently but also with wilful neglect with respect to their approval of the CSB agreement.91裸聊视频�
Allegations in the statement of claim have not been proven in court.
The lawsuit names the 2018 Canada Soccer board of directors, five of whom are still currently board members. Those named include current president Charmaine Crooks and former presidents Nick Bontis and Steven Reed.
91裸聊视频淲e have been made aware of a legal proceeding filed by the Canadian Soccer Players91裸聊视频� Association, against the members of the 2018 Canada Soccer board,91裸聊视频� said a Canada Soccer spokesman. 91裸聊视频淥ur organization is currently seeking advice on this matter.91裸聊视频�
Canadian Soccer Business, which shares the same ownership as the Canadian Premier League, was announced in March 2018 as 91裸聊视频渁 new sports enterprise representing commercial assets and inventory for marquee soccer properties in Canada.91裸聊视频�
It represents corporate partnerships and broadcast rights for the women91裸聊视频檚 and men91裸聊视频檚 national team programs, all commercial assets of the CPL, the Canadian Championship and Canadian soccer grassroots programs.
The timing of the lawsuit, on the eve of Canada91裸聊视频檚 opening game against El Salvador at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, does not seem coincidental.
91裸聊视频淚 know news broke today but you wouldn91裸聊视频檛 have known that,91裸聊视频� Canada coach Bev Priestman told a news conference in Houston when asked about the lawsuit. 91裸聊视频淭hat tells you that this team is currently focused on what91裸聊视频檚 in front of them. There91裸聊视频檚 been no side conversations. It91裸聊视频檚 all been about what91裸聊视频檚 going to happen on a football pitch.91裸聊视频�
Newly appointed Canada captain Jessie Fleming had little to say on the matter.
91裸聊视频淭o be honest, it91裸聊视频檚 something that91裸聊视频檚 being dealt with in the courts and so I think from a players91裸聊视频� perspective we91裸聊视频檙e not going to comment on it right now,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淛ust reiterating what Bev said, the mood in camp is really good and we feel really good as a group right now. To be honest, it91裸聊视频檚 not just something that91裸聊视频檚 being talked about among the players at this point in camp.91裸聊视频�
Both the Canadian men91裸聊视频檚 and women91裸聊视频檚 teams are currently negotiating labour agreements with Canada Soccer.
The women91裸聊视频檚 previous deal expired at the end of 2021. The men are negotiating their first formal agreement in the wake of forming their own players association, the Canada Men91裸聊视频檚 National Soccer Team Players Association.
News of the lawsuit evokes memories of Canada at the SheBelieves Cup in the U.S. last February. That tournament was overshadowed by the Canadian women91裸聊视频檚 move to boycott training over their displeasure at the labour negotiations and their subsequent return to the field under the threat of legal action from Canada Soccer.
Canada lost two of three matches at the SheBelieves Cup, finishing last in the four-team competition.
At the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, the 10th-ranked Canadian women have been drawn in Group C with No. 43 Costa Rica, No. 50 Paraguay and No. 104 El Salvador.
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