Two B.C. soccer teams apologize after agreeing not to compete in provincial match

NANAIMO — Two B.C. minor soccer teams are apologizing after they were disqualified from the provincial under-17 soccer championship over a group-stage match that BC Soccer ruled brought the game into disrepute.

The sanctions stemmed from a Saturday match in Nanaimo, B.C., after Okanagan FC and Saanich Fusion had already secured spots in the championship game, leaving the result with no bearing on who advanced.

Video posted on social media appeared to show players making little effort to compete, instead standing around and casually passing the ball for much of the match.

Both clubs accepted the sanctions in public statements, with Okanagan calling the incident a “profound learning moment.”