The coach of a soccer team in the Vancouver Youth Soccer Association claims a complaint about racism directed at 13-year-old players on his team went unaddressed for more than a year. Andrew Baron told CTV News the alleged incident took place during a match in October 2023. "There was a player on the opposing team who kept engaging in a racist behaviour, stretching out his eyes targeting kids of an East Asian background on our team, saying things right in their face,” he said.
“Not even when they had the ball. So, just like targeting them, hunting them down the field." Baron said he spoke with the opposing coach after the game and they tried to convince the player alleged to have engaged in the racist gestures to apologize, but he refused.
At that point, Baron tried to make a formal complaint on behalf of his players – but was told the impacted players would have to make the complaint themselves. “The process required the 12- and 13-year-old kids to write a formal statement. They’re now being asked to relive that experience and go through the pain of those emotions again,” he said.
Baron said the youth agreed to go through with the process. He said 13 months passed and there was no investigation and no formal response from the VYSA or the BC Coastal Soccer League, despite his repeated attempts to have someone look into the allegations. “It’s an unfortunate reality of our world that bullying and harassment can occur in any and every area of our lives,” said L.
