Former Whitecaps women’s players demand further action amid abuse investigation

A group of former players for the Vancouver Whitecaps women’s team say they support an investigation into how the club handled allegations of abuse, but they want the players affected to “have a say in its scope and mandate.”

The Professional Footballers Association Canada (PFAC) released a statement on behalf of former players from the Whitecaps women’s teams Monday. This comes after the league announced last week that Janice Rubin and Melody Jahanzadeh of Rubin Thomlinson LLP will conduct an independent review of how the Whitecaps dealt with misconduct allegations against former coaches Bob Birarda and Hubert Busby Jr.

The Professional Footballers Association Canada says while Major League Soccer has hired a “highly credible” firm to conduct an investigation, the players have additional demands that need to be met in order to address “negligent leadership.”

PFACan was approached by Vancouver Whitecaps and Canada U20 women players to assist them with the investigations by MLS and Canada Soccer into coaches Birarda and Busby Jr. PFACan is all about giving a voice to players, and they deserve input into these processes. Our statement: pic.twitter.com/0cuWw5wBGW

— PFA Canada (@canada_pfa) November 8, 2021

The independent probe was announced after former player Malloree Enoch came forward with detailed allegations of abuse, saying Busby repeatedly tried to pressure her into sex and that the team muzzled players who tried to speak up.

Those allegations came as Birarda faces multiple criminal charges for sexual offences alleged to have been perpetrated over two decades, including six counts of sexual exploitation, and one count of child luring.

Canada Soccer has also announced it would conduct a review of the investigation of allegations against Birarda during his time with that organization after it came to light he still held a coaching licence issued by the association. PFAC is asking for the findings of that investigation to be released as well.

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PFAC’s statement outlines what they describe as systemic failures and by the club’s leadership to respond to allegations of abuse when they were raised in 2008 and 2011.

“Their response was to silence us, quietly investigate without even speaking to the victims, and fire the coaches without any flag or warning for other clubs,” the statement says.

“Clubs, parents and players had no knowledge or warning of these coaches’ history because there was no system in place to flag misconduct and the Whitecaps and Canada Soccer were not transparent to the public about the reasons behind their departure. It is not clear that the MLS investigation and Canada Soccer review will do anything to ensure the safety and well-being of athletes in the system moving forward, which is of paramount concern and motivation to us. These processes also do not address the collective trauma that we have experienced at the hands of the Vancouver Whitecaps, and Canada Soccer, by their silence for over a decade.”

The players are asking to see the investigation’s preliminary findings, and provide feedback on any recommendations. They are also asking for a commitment on behalf of the club and the league to fund mental health services for players coached by Busby or Birarda.

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PFAC is also demanding that “Vancouver Whitecaps, MLS and Canada Soccer commit that they will take appropriate action against anyone currently connected to the organizations who are found by the joint investigation to have failed in taking effective steps to stop the abusive behaviour.”

All current members of the Whitecaps executive team who were “involved in these matters” have been placed on administrative leave, according to a statement and apology released by CEO Axel Schuster last week.

Although the Whitecaps have not released the names of those on leave, Bob and Dan Lenarduzzi, Rachel Lewis and Greg Anderson were all with the club during 2010/11 period and are currently listed as members of the executive team.

Busby has denied the allegations against him in an interview with the Guardian newspaper in the U.K., saying the Whitecaps decision not to renew his contract was not due to any inappropriate behaviour. Last week, he was suspended for his role as head coach of the women’s team with the Jamaica Football Federation.

Brarda is next due in court Nov. 25.