I have always understood Cal South to be a governing body and to become an "affiliate member", you answer to their governance policies and procedures. I thought that meant you as an "affiliate member" could only have your tournament "sanctioned" by them if your tournament met their standards.
The below quote from their recent press release appears to show they are enforcing oversight responsibilities by investigating the situation and providing consequences. In their statement, they don't appear to have separated their oversight responsibility from the club's responsibility. Having said that, I agree with you about law suits. Cal South can't be sued for this incident anymore than the SEC that governs public companies can be sued for a company that falsifies information to the public. I am impressed with how Cal South is addressing this issue.
"Cal South is investigating the situation with its affiliate member and the authorities, and while we review the incident, we are taking the following interim measures:
- Due to the seriousness of the situation, both participating teams, their coaches, players, administrators and the spectators involved in this incident are suspended and ineligible to participate in any Cal South sanctioned tournaments until Cal South completes its investigation and holds hearings.
- Failure of any team or its staff to participate in Cal South’s investigation will result in further disciplinary action up to and including de-registration from all Cal South sanctioned leagues."
Close and it may just be a matter of semantics. Technically speaking the only "Governing Body" is US Soccer, which is the National Governing Body for soccer under Federal Law. Cal South is a US Soccer - "State Association" that must comply with both US Soccer and its "National Association" US Youth Soccer's rules and regulations. There are 3 youth "National Association" who are members of US Soccer (AYSO, US Club, US Youth Soccer). Any one of these 3 National Associations could feasibly "sanction" a tournament through their affiliated State Associations/Members. When Cal South sanctions a tournament, all its it doing is saying that the tournament sponsor is (1) a member of Cal South; (2) will abide by Cal South policies and procedures.
Because this was a Cal South sanctioned tournament, the tournament operator (Albion) and all the teams that signed up for the tournament agreed to abide by Cal South and US Youth Soccer rules and regulations. Because the clubs Albion and Inter America are both Cal South members, they are subject to the Cal South disciplinary process through the Cal South Standing Committee: "Protest, Appeals and Discipline (PAD)", which is tasked with the investigation and reporting to the board its (PAD's) findings.
Up to this point, all Cal South has done at this point is recognize that the teams, coaches and admins are suspended from "Cal South sanctioned tournaments" until the investigation is over.
The move for enhanced security and sideline adjustment only impacts Cal South events (but not sanctioned events).