In a surprise move, the Canadian Soccer Association announced Thursday that it fired Chief Operating Officer Kevan Pipe, who headed the CSA’s day-to-day operations since 1985.
“We’re looking for someone that maybe can give us the vision for the future,” CSA president Colin Linford said. “Maybe someone that can lead us in a direction with corporate Canada, with sponsorships — anything and everything that really promotes the Canadian Soccer Association as the governing body in Canada.”
Pipe was a key figure in steering Canada in a new direction. In 2007, MLS will launch its first Canadian team, Toronto FC. Canada will host the World Youth Championship. And Toronto will open its first soccer-specific stadium: 20,000-seat BMO Field. Just last week, Pipe toured BMO Field with FIFA inspectors.
“I am amazed and thrilled,” said FIFA vice president Jack Warner said Wednesday after touring the BMO Field construction site. “I get goose pimples looking at this.”
Ticket sales for Canada ’07 have already surpassed 350,000.
In the first year of Pipe’s tenure, Canada played in the 1986 World Cup finals, but the men’s national team has generally been a disappointment for the last two decades. The women’s program has flourished, though it is currently embroiled in a nasty dispute involving three stars.