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murd0c · 08-10-2012, 10:02 AM

I'm just wondering what some others opnions on this is? seeing stories like this for myself is very frustrating because growing up I was always taught everyone is equal and skin color doesn't matter but seeing a story like this especially calling the white kids "imports" really shows why there is racism in society and why it could be getting worse these days.

Ethnic rule riles Surrey soccer mom

Quote:

Debbie Christiansen is upset after her son's soccer team was barred from tournaments because they have too many nonIndo-Canadian players.

The Surrey mom said her son and his U13 teammates from the BC Tigers Sports Club have been sidelined from competing in the United Summer Soccer Association because of a controversial rule from the Indo-Canadian Soccer Association.

Rule 32 states that a maximum of four imports - players who aren't Indo-Canadian - are allowed in all boys U13 and U14 divisions. Christiansen's team has seven imports, but they went through the registration process in April and competed in numerous games without any problems, until recently.

"We had been playing with our same team throughout all the tournaments and nobody ever said anything," Christiansen said.

It wasn't until her son's team started winning weekend tournaments that the concerns over the number of imports came to light.

"We had the semifinal game and we won that," she said. "The coach from the opposing team lodged a complaint against us that we had too many import players on our team and they felt that they should be in the final because we broke the rule. Our feeling was this coach that lost to us in the semifinal was sour grapes."

She said her son's team went on to the final, but to avoid a $500 fine, they agreed to give the win to the opposing team, regardless of the outcome.

"Our coach said, 'Well, we just want to play soccer. You can have the win. We just want to play the game,'" she said.

However, during the match while the score was tied, Christiansen's son's team started dominating. She said that's when the other team started complaining her players were kicking too much until the referee called the game.

"Our feelings were that they thought they might lose," she said.

Christiansen said she asked the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal if it was legal for a league to discriminate against players and found that there are exceptions.

Section 41 of the provincial Human Rights Code states that non-profit social organizations operating primarily to promote the interests of an identifiable group or class "must not be considered to be contravening this Code because it is granting a preference to members of the identifiable group or class of persons." The USSA is a registered non-profit and fees are put toward running the league.

Mantej Dhillon, executive director of the USSA, acknowledged that Rule 32 can limit some teams, but said the committee responsible for the U13 division is concerned that allowing more import players may overload the association.

"They think if we open the tournament for all the communities, there will be too many teams and they cannot handle it," he said.

Dhillon said some teams registered within the import limit, but later added players. Next year, he said team rosters will be finalized at the registration process to prevent extra imports.

Christiansen's team is allowed to play exhibition games, but they risk getting fined if they compete in any tournaments, she said.

"They said you can take some of your import players and join other Tigers teams, but they don't want to do that," she said, noting that the boys are all good friends. "Who do you choose to go to other teams?"

Dhillon knows these boys are eager to play soccer with their friends rather than against them.

"I don't know how we tell those people, 'You can't play in the summer.' Sometimes we hurt the feelings of those kids and parents."

Christiansen hopes the USSA will revise the rule so that future soccer players, no matter what ethnic background, can get on the field.

The committee will take a vote next season on whether or not to increase the number of import players in the division.

Dhillon is optimistic more imports will be allowed and hopes the number will increase each season.

"I'm very positive we will bring the good news next year for everybody," he said.

Read more: Ethnic rule riles Surrey soccer mom

7seven · 08-10-2012, 10:13 AM

I might be missing something here but are they not playing in the "Indo-Canadian Soccer Association" as mentioned in the article? If so I have no issues with the rule, just like I have no issues with Clubs for females allowing only females, Boy Scouts not being open to openly gay members, CFL having import limits, etc... these are private organizations/clubs/businesses, IMO are free to make their own rules even if I don't necessarily agree with their rules. Don't like it don't join their club or give them your business/support.

Question I have is why didn't her son just join a regular soccer league?

ZordosZZ · 08-10-2012, 10:17 AM

racism/descrimination aside that's just really shitty coaching, way to teach the kids about sportsmanship by crying about a stupid technicality like that. wonder if the coach would've pulled the same move if they were winning.

fliptuner · 08-10-2012, 10:18 AM

What ever happened to "May the best man win" or in this case, team.

Way to teach our kids good sportsmanship and fair play.

Why aren't there more leagues that allow all races to play though? Maybe the Indo-Canadian Soccer Association should only allow their own people to play so this isn't even an issue.

GLOW · 08-10-2012, 10:19 AM

when i hear the word import i think JDM
in all seriousness this reminds me of the CBA in china where they allow only 2 non-chinese players per team (aka NBA level guys aka black guys) to play.

to call kids "imports" though does seem a little insensitive. i'm not sure what other term you would use though.

sad to hear that the game was called when the questionable team looked like they were going to win, just let the kids play...but then again...you hear how soccer parents can get competitive...

@7seven
her son probably plays in that association b/c she lives in surrey and all his friends play there...that would be my guess...

since it's an indo-canadian society i can see where they are coming from though in terms of trying to keep the majority of the members on the team indo-canadian

InvisibleSoul · 08-10-2012, 10:43 AM

Solution? Sign the white kids up for a regular soccer league.

freakshow · 08-10-2012, 10:54 AM

I would love to see the reaction to a 'White Canadian U13 club'. might as well just burn a cross in your front yard

will068 · 08-10-2012, 11:05 AM

These import rules are usually prevalent in low tier professional sports teams in non western countries.

E.g. In the Philippines, the PBA (Philippines Basketball Association) has import rules that limit foreign national per team. Why ? basically, because we suck at basketball compared to other countries. (E.g. Journey man in the NBA who averaged 1 point per game scores 50+ ppg in his first season in the PBA).

The way I see this article, they don't want too much non Indo-Canadians because they might dominate their Indo-Canadian League.

melloman · 08-10-2012, 11:30 AM

Why come to Canada.. to fucking de-socialize from everyone else?

I can understand how Canada is "land of the free" but jesus christ you have to draw a line somewhere. Everyone seems to be immigrating to Canada then bitching that "their culture" isn't respected in some way or another.

Then go back home.

All this cultural and racist bullshit needs to stop. Were diversified in our religions, cultures, races, etc. here and that needs to be accepted by ALL.

doma · 08-10-2012, 11:34 AM

white kids are just the best soccer players. simples.

melloman · 08-10-2012, 11:35 AM

^^Disagrees.. Brazilian ringers are the best for soccer.

smoothie. · 08-10-2012, 11:39 AM

hey guys lets play a game of soccer.

guess what team restrictions there are?

fliptuner · 08-10-2012, 11:40 AM

good players not allowed?

Raid3n · 08-10-2012, 11:40 AM

murd0c · 08-10-2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7seven

I might be missing something here but are they not playing in the "Indo-Canadian Soccer Association" as mentioned in the article? If so I have no issues with the rule, just like I have no issues with Clubs for females allowing only females, Boy Scouts not being open to openly gay members, CFL having import limits, etc... these are private organizations/clubs/businesses, IMO are free to make their own rules even if I don't necessarily agree with their rules. Don't like it don't join their club or give them your business/support.

Question I have is why didn't her son just join a regular soccer league?

I grew up in Surrey and I think this "Indo-Canadian Soccer Association" shit is BS and out right racist. There is a large Indo-Canadian population in Surrey and with the amount of familys/kids there are not enough white kids to start a league so why does that have to screw over the children that just want to play. Everyone should be equal and shouldnt matter since it's about playing on a team and having fun.

Sid Vicious · 08-10-2012, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murd0c

I grew up in Surrey and I think this "Indo-Canadian Soccer Association" shit is BS and out right racist. There is a large Indo-Canadian population in Surrey and with the amount of familys/kids there are not enough white kids to start a league so why does that have to screw over the children that just want to play. Everyone should be equal and shouldnt matter since it's about playing on a team and having fun.

its the canadian myth of multiculturalism

we think that we're all diverse and shit, but for the most part minorities congregate in ethnic enclaves and keep to themselves

anyways if you like playing in an ethnic specific league you're a fucking loser anyways, i've never understood the purposes of the leagues. i guess they just dont wanna lose to other races

tool001 · 08-10-2012, 11:51 AM

thats right!!! segregate them at early age..so that they dont learn to live in a ethnically diverse society.... lol

RFlush · 08-10-2012, 12:05 PM

If they made a league that only allowed four non white players, people would go ape shit.

Similar to allowing these Chinese or Asian clubs on campus but wonder if they would ever allow a White Club. Would be nice to see.

Iceman-19 · 08-10-2012, 12:08 PM

The league should be disbanded, they are not teaching children anything positive. Oh, we are losing, THEY HAVE TOO MANY WHITES THATS NOT RIGHT. This is Canada. Want to play against a team with less whites? GO BACK TO INDIA. Whining because they are losing, even after being told they win no matter what? What a shitty league. The organizers and coachs should be ashamed of themselves. People complain there is too much racism, its shit like this that causes people to generalize a race, and say, oh stupid browns, come to Canada and shit on us? I have friends of all races, I hate people for their ignorance and fucking stupidity, regardless of their skin colour.

murd0c · 08-10-2012, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman-19

The league should be disbanded, they are not teaching children anything positive. Oh, we are losing, THEY HAVE TOO MANY WHITES THATS NOT RIGHT. This is Canada. Want to play against a team with less whites? GO BACK TO INDIA. Whining because they are losing, even after being told they win no matter what? What a shitty league. The organizers and coachs should be ashamed of themselves. People complain there is too much racism, its shit like this that causes people to generalize a race, and say, oh stupid browns, come to Canada and shit on us? I have friends of all races, I hate people for their ignorance and fucking stupidity, regardless of their skin colour.

I couldnt of said it any better myself, I need to be careful what to say in this topic since growing up in the area and facing and dealing with the racism of being which and having people pull the no english card on my all the time really pisses me off to say the least....

InvisibleSoul · 08-10-2012, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will068

These import rules are usually prevalent in low tier professional sports teams in non western countries.

E.g. In the Philippines, the PBA (Philippines Basketball Association) has import rules that limit foreign national per team. Why ? basically, because we suck at basketball compared to other countries. (E.g. Journey man in the NBA who averaged 1 point per game scores 50+ ppg in his first season in the PBA).

The way I see this article, they don't want too much non Indo-Canadians because they might dominate their Indo-Canadian League.

This is (or should be) the reason behind the segregation.

quasi · 08-10-2012, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freakshow

I would love to see the reaction to a 'White Canadian U13 club'. might as well just burn a cross in your front yard

Worse yet, go to India and do the same thing and see how that plays out for you. They can call it what they want but those kids have every right to drop the racism card.

fliptuner · 08-10-2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InvisibleSoul

This is (or should be) the reason behind the segregation.

There's a big difference between a national organization allowing foriegners to play vs. a local kid's soccer league not allowing people of a certain race to participate.

Mr.C · 08-10-2012, 12:50 PM

Sorry, last I checked I was in Canada, not India.

This sort of segregation should never exist.

MR_BIGGS · 08-10-2012, 01:31 PM

How many of you have played soccer? I'm not saying what is happening in that league is fair but with youth sports comes politics and stuff like this. If it isn't about having too many imports its coaches bringing ringers to tournaments that are over the age limit. Yes, even for teenaged tournaments. I've seen it and experienced it. A game is so one-sided that one team files a complaint at half time asking for the other team's players IDs, and not playing until they see it.

I remember I played in a Croatian tournament in Burnaby and each team was allowed three imports. I was one of them. I'm a visible minority. Is it right? That's debateable, but what the reporter fails to mention is that this is common across the board in soccer. Not just predominately indo-Canadian run leagues and tournaments.