New national registry exposes years of cover-ups while multiple players sue provincial body over convicted coach's decades of sexual assault
Canada has launched its first national registry of sports officials banned for sexual misconduct, but for the victims of convicted coach Bob Birarda, it arrives years too late. Multiple former players are now suing BC Soccer for its role in enabling decades of abuse by the former Vancouver Whitecaps and Canada Soccer youth coach.
The Canadian Safe Sport Program Public Registry, published by government-funded Sport Integrity Canada, lists individuals banned for misconduct including sexual assault and grooming of minors. Birarda appears on the registry following his 2022 conviction for three counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual touching involving players under his care.
The Guardian has revealed that BC Soccer faces legal action from multiple former players who were coached by Birarda in the Vancouver area. These same players provided evidence to police that led to Birarda's criminal conviction and jail sentence.
The provincial football body has offered what sources describe as a "lowball" counter offer to the victims. BC Soccer's 2024 financial report cryptically references "claims in respect of historical events" while stating "the amount and likelihood of incurring a loss is not determinable".
Despite Birarda's conviction and subsequent ban by Canada Soccer in 2022, neither the national organisation nor BC Soccer made any public acknowledgement. This silence exemplifies the culture of concealment that allowed Birarda to operate unchecked for decades.
BC Soccer has declined to comment on the legal action and is being represented by Vancouver law firm Alexander Holburn. Notably, Bruno De Vita, deputy chair of FIFA's Ethics Committee and an arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Sport, is a partner at the firm representing BC Soccer.
Signy Arnason, executive director of Safe Sport for Sport Integrity Canada, previously told the Guardian that Birarda's absence from any public registry was:
a perfect example of a serious gap that needs to be fixed – no question
The registry currently includes individuals banned for misconduct ranging from criminal convictions for sexual assault to grooming of minors. Among those listed is athletics coach George Barber, banned by Athletics Canada in 2015 after the organisation discovered his 2007 US criminal conviction for having sex with a student.
Arnason emphasised the global nature of the safeguarding crisis:
We know that people move through the system. This registry is so critical for the international community. This is not just about Canada. It is about everyone examining how best to start to solve these really serious issues in a meaningful way.
The globalisation of sport allows predatory coaches to move between countries without accountability, making international cooperation essential for player protection.
The new registry's most glaring weakness is its voluntary nature. While 93 national sports organisations have adopted the Canadian Safe Sport program, only 80 have voluntarily provided information to the registry.
Critical gaps remain:
Arnason made clear that voluntary compliance is insufficient:
This does need to be a mandatory model and we would encourage the federal government to make that requirement.
The Future of Sport in Canada Commission has recommended that participation be mandatory and that federal funding be withheld from non-compliant organisations. Without mandatory reporting, predators can continue exploiting the gaps between provincial and national bodies.
With Canada set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the spotlight on youth player protection will only intensify. The tournament represents both an opportunity to showcase Canadian football and a deadline for fixing systemic safeguarding failures that have damaged countless young players' lives.
The legal action against BC Soccer will test whether provincial football bodies can be held accountable for enabling abuse. A significant financial settlement could force systemic changes across Canadian football's governance structures.
Meanwhile, Sport Integrity Canada continues pushing for mandatory registry participation. The organisation's ability to withhold funding from non-compliant bodies may prove the most effective tool for forcing transparency from organisations that have historically prioritised reputation over player safety in these off the pitch matters.
SportSignals is an independent publication. Views expressed are our own.
The Canadian Safe Sport Program Public Registry is Canada's first national database of sports officials banned for sexual misconduct. It lists individuals banned for offenses including sexual assault and grooming of minors, managed by Sport Integrity Canada.
Bob Birarda is a former Vancouver Whitecaps and Canada Soccer youth coach convicted in 2022 for three counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual touching involving players. His victims are now suing BC Soccer for enabling decades of abuse.
Multiple former players who were coached by Birarda are suing BC Soccer for its role in enabling decades of abuse. The victims provided evidence that led to Birarda's criminal conviction and are seeking compensation for the harm they suffered.
The safeguarding crisis exposes critical gaps in player protection systems that allowed predators to operate unchecked. This raises serious concerns about Canada's ability to ensure player safety as it prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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