Vancouvers B.C. Place Stadium will host the regional womens soccer qualifier for the London 2012 Olympics, but allegations of international corruption could overshadow the Jan. 19-29 event.
Jack Warner suddenly quit in June as president of the North and Central American and Caribbean confederation, or CONCACAF, after world governing body FIFA launched a probe into allegations of bribery.
Trinidad and Tobagos Warner was also a FIFA vice-president and served as the chairman of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup when Canada hosted the tournament in 2007. He was accused of helping Qatars Mohammed bin Hammam buy votes from Caribbean officials in his campaign to succeed FIFA president Sepp Blatter. FIFA banned Bin Hammam for life and opened an ethics probe of 16 Caribbean soccer executives.
The Independent newspaper reported last week that American whistleblower Chuck Blazer, CONCACAFs general secretary, is under FBI investigation for allegedly receiving secret commission payments.
The Canadian Soccer Association is one of 40 members of New York-based CONCACAF.
We haven't been privy to all the details and we would await that CONCACAF and/or FIFA would be providing the accurate information as it comes forward, CSA general secretary Peter Montopoli told the Courier. At this point in time we're not concerned. We're waiting, as are all member associations of CONCACAF would, for the information in order to assess the next step.
Ticket packages for the CONCACAF qualifier are available Sept. 9. Single-game tickets go on sale after the October tournament draw in Vancouver.
Montopoli said Canadas new coach is expected to be in place before mid-September. Italian Carolina Morace was fired after Canadas shocking first round exit from the 2011 Womens World Cup in Germany. The hire is crucial because Canada is hosting the 2015 tournament.
Montopoli said FIFA inspectors will visit prospective stadiums beginning Sept. 14 in Halifax. The tour will wind up 10 days later in Vancouver, which is aiming to host the final. Montopoli said the tournament would cost more than $30 million to operate.
We are still working through the numbers on the final budget, only because we're still learning from FIFA what the entire requirements are, he said.
Canada became host by default on March 3. Zimbabwe, the only other bidder, withdrew its bid. The African country, ruled by dictator Robert Mugabe, is ranked 169th and last on the United Nations human development index. Canada gave Zimbabwe almost $22 million in foreign aid in 2009-2010.
The Canadian Heritage ministry pledged $15 million for the 2015 tournament and the 2014 Under-20 Womens World Cup test event. Montopoli is also seeking taxpayer funds from provincial tourism agencies and host cities.
Documents obtained under Access to Information offer no hint about the total bill for the tournament. Estimates for essential federal services, including security, were censored.
Gary Lunn, who was the junior sports minister until Mays election, wrote two letters to Blatter on Feb. 17, committing government assistance from a dozen agencies. He guaranteed entry and worker permits, tariff relief, security and safety, trademark protection, telecommunications and tax exemption. Lunn also reiterated Canadian sovereignty.
The Government of Canada submission included an undated letter with a 2011 file number from Finance minister Jim Flaherty to Blatter. All but the opening paragraph were censored.
The CSA bid book to FIFA was sought under the Access to Information request, but Canadian Heritage refused to release 66 pages in their entirety. Unlike the International Olympic Committee, FIFA considers bid books private documents.
The CSA is similarly secretive. Its 2010 annual report, which claimed an $808,000 operating profit, did not include a balance sheet.
It contains the necessary information, by law, that we do present, Montopoli said.
By comparison, the United States Soccer Federation reports detailed annual revenues and expenditures and even individual match receipts.
After hosting the 2007 Under-20 World Cup, the CSA published a financial report showing a $23.916 million balanced budget from the biggest single-sport tournament held in Canada.
