CSL president Vincent Ursini made it clear during an interview on TSN radio May 11 that his league has much to look forward to in the near term and beyond despite attempts by the Canadian Soccer Association during the past two years to remove the longstanding professional league from the Canadian soccer community.
“We look forward to working with the newly-formed American Soccer League and we have also been invited to consider another international opportunity elsewhere,” said Ursini after explaining the CSL’s position that the CSA’s heavy-handed actions are certainly going to finish up in court.
“How is it possible for a league such as the CSL, a league that has contributed so many players to the national program to be de-sanctioned for reasons of making way for a lesser structure in this country.” he said.
Responding to questions from program hosts Lindsay O’Connor and Peter Irvine on the International Sports Report, Ursini said the CSA has never explained what rule violations caused the recent expulsion of the CSL from its membership.
The CSL had earlier clarified that the league was never invited or required to attend a hearing to discuss any issues that might lead to expulsion. Such action by a national sports body is extraordinary and appears to be unprecedented.
The CSL, formed in 1926, was de-sanctioned by the CSA in 2013 to make way for a new semi-professional soccer structure recommended by the US-based Rethink Management Group, but the decision to de-sanction was overturned for a period of one year until February 2014 by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre Canada which operates under the auspices of Sport Canada and the federal government.
The CSL kicks off its new season with two divisions the weekend May 23 -24.