The Canadian Soccer League will kickoff the new season with eight teams on Saturday, August 28 following the postponement of the opening day schedule of August 14 due to an insurance issue at the city-owned Centennial Stadium at Etobicoke in Toronto’s west end.
The CSL teams taking part are the defending CSL champions FC Vorkuta, the 2020 finalist Scarborough SC, Serbian White Eagles and BGHC, a team representing southern Ontario neighbours Brantford Galaxy and Hamilton City which have completed an arrangement to merge. The four teams invited to take part in a league format competition for the newly-introduced ProSound Cup are Atletico Sporting Toronto, Euru Futbol Academy, which is based in Hamilton, Ontario, St. Catharines Hrvat and Toronto Tigers.
The 3-game opener will kickoff the ProSound Cup invitational competition consisting of the 4 CSL teams and 4 invited teams in a 32-game league format and this will be followed by the CSL Championship playoffs moving the four CSL teams to the semi finals and final to conclude the season.
The opener on Saturday will remain the same schedule arranged for August 14, with Scarborough SC hosting Toronto Tigers in the first game at 3 pm, BGHC will be at home to FC Vorkuta at 5 pm and Serbian White Eagles will host Atletico Sporting Toronto at 7. All games will be played at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke.
The Canadian Soccer league has also announced that the normal league rules and regulations will apply to the ProSound Cup competition.
In the event of a tie on points following completion of the 32-game schedule the Section 2009 tie-breaker rule applies:
- Total wins during the 32-game competition
- Head-to-head record based on total points
- Goal difference
- Goals scored
The league discipline rules will apply including Rule 97005 that in all circumstances a player receiving a red card will automatically be suspended for the next game and the player is subject to additional game suspensions depending on the severity of the offence.
STADIUM REQUIREMENTS
On kickoff day, Saturday, August 28, a limited number of spectators are allowed into the stadium from 2.30 pm until the final whistle of the third game at approx, 9 pm. An opening day pass for all three games is available at the gate for $10. Spectators are required to wear a mask or face covering in a manner that covers their mouth, nose and chin, unless they are entitled to an exemption. Physical distancing is required.
Stan Adamson