Thank you for starting this post. While there has been a ton of information already posted, it is probably time to just put all the information (notice I did not use the term facts because those are becoming harder and harder to come by) out there. None of this is meant to hurt the child but to raise a very serious issue. It is also because some CalSouth Board members have chosen to completely go against the investigation authority and mountains of evidence that points to an 'ineligible' player playing through the games to date.
But, before anything else gets said, lets all remember that this is about a 10/11 year old child. The adults surrounding this situation are the ones that this is about and the lessons that come out of this.
So, lets now get to the information and let people make their own decision on what is true. Last week a number of rumors were swirling that there was an 05 player on the Anaheim Surf team. This discussion was circulating based on a number of coaches who all began asking questions. This wasnt some sudden revelation but one that was driven by facts on the ground over the last two years. Some may ask, 'Why didnt this come out earlier?' Well, as was stated earlier, this was not one of the premier players on the team and went unnoticed. So, what information is known?
Two seasons ago, this player was playing at Corinthians and at that time was registered under one name with a birth certificate that showed a birthday in 2005. This was later confirmed by individuals who were involved at that time and provided evidence that she had a 2005 birthday. The next year, as has been stated by multiple people, she was heavily recruited (in what appears to have been a package deal) to play for BW. This girl was the lynchpin for recruiting the other 2 girls and many thought they wouldnt stay if she wasnt there. But, thats just interesting. During the 2015/16 season, this player played for BW and there were issues identified by the club about her birth year and, some have said, this contributed to BWs departure from his prior club.
However, this year is the most important. At the beginning of the year, this player was registered as a new player with a new name (added a hyphen name to the name she was previously registered with) and a new CalSouth player number. She played through the year with this team. During the year, however, some coaches in the know raised this issue. One from his prior club knew this was happening and raised it to the club and the club chose to ignore it. I cannot confirm this but am told that during one game a former coach from BWs prior club actually went to a game to see if this player was playing and demanded she be removed from the field and BW did. But, that didnt change anything. Again, I cannot confirm that but have been told that by other coaches.
As others have said on other threads, this girl and the other 2 players had tried out with other teams and those teams would not take them on because she was an 05. BW chose differently.
Now we get to the real good stuff! So, this week, after talking with prior individuals from the prior club and coaches who had talked and pieced together enough to become aware of what was happening, a protest was filed. At that point CalSouth begins its investigation. The investigation over the last week is one that you see in movies. Multiple birth certificates that were used to register and allow the player to play for 2 years that showed 05 birthdays and one this year that showed 06. I am also told that one was provided this week that was 'pristine' with not a single crease or smudge on it that showed 06. While I do not know all the info, I do know that CalSouth made the decision at that point that this player was ineligible and that would result in a forfeit of the Quarterfinals game. On Thursday the ruling was provided and posted. Rule 9.4 from the State/National Cup rule book is below:
