2 youth Whitecaps players charged with sexual assault
Two youth Vancouver Whitecaps soccer players have been charged with sexual assault after a “serious incident” at their Burnaby training facility last week.
According to a statement from the Whitecaps, the two youth players were immediately and indefinitely suspended by the MLS club, and the issue reported to the RCMP.
“A serious incident is alleged to have occurred between some male youth players at our Burnaby training facility last week which was in clear contravention of the club’s code of conduct,” said the Whitecaps’ statement.
“The safety and well being of our players is our top priority and we have been cooperating fully with the RCMP investigation.”
Due to the young age of the players allegedly involved, they cannot be identified.
The Vancouver Whitecaps’ full statement:
A serious incident is alleged to have occurred between some male youth players at our Burnaby training facility last week which was in clear contravention of the club’s code of conduct. Two players involved were immediately put on indefinite suspension by the club and the matter was referred to RCMP. The safety and well being of our players is our top priority and we have been cooperating fully with the RCMP investigation. Two minors have since been charged with sexual assault and the matter is now before the courts.
The training facility is used by Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency players, who are part of a full-time program designed to develop young players scouted from across Canada.
According to the Whitecaps website, young players can join the program as early as the age of 12 and there are around 80 players currently taking part in the program.
While taking part in the Whitecaps FC Residency program, young players attend Burnaby Central Secondary School to complete their schooling.
Daily Hive contacted the Burnaby School District about the alleged sexual assault, but a spokesperson there said they could not comment on the case.
That spokesperson referred us to the RCMP. However, the RCMP are yet to respond to our inquiry at the time of writing.
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