Recently, the Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association (WYSA), of which Hanover has been a part of for 18 years, laid charges of league-tampering and team-stacking against the Hanover Soccer Club. The WYSA has now set up a committee to investigate these allegations.

In response to these charges, the Hanover Soccer Club's Technical Director, Norm Anderson, released this statement:

"Hanover Soccer Club are disappointed that WYSA have denied our application to join their league. 

We look forward to the opportunity to have all the facts examined, these allegations dropped, and our name cleared.

To quote the WYSA president, 'it appears this academy has actively recruited players without regard to any boundaries,' when it states in the WYSA transfer rules that-'Individual players who reside outside the perimeter of the City of Winnipeg and wish to participate on a team within the perimeter of the City of Winnipeg must first complete the MSA Out of Region Transfer Request Policy. Conversely, players who reside inside the perimeter of the City of Winnipeg and wish to participate on a team outside the perimeter of the City of Winnipeg must also complete the MSA Out of Region Transfer Request Policy. If the request is approved by the MSA, the receiving region League Member shall determine where the player is placed.'

These players all followed this process and then were approved by the MSA to transfer.

Hanover Soccer Club categorically deny the tampering charge.

We also have no recreational teams involved in the Stacking allegation! 

We are extremely disappointed for all these young soccer players who through no fault of theirs, but more for political and financial reasons may not get to play the beautiful game this summer.

In conclusion, we hope for a speedy resolution to this situation."

WYSA President Daryl Lindsay admits MSA's approval but does not have the same interpretation of the situation. He refers to recent events as a “flagrant instance of team stacking,” and believes Hanover sought to create a "superteam".

However, Lindsey does not let all blame fall on Hanover and says the parents who chose to switch leagues, evidently did not recognize the implications of their actions. He indicates that the sudden exodus of 30-odd players impacted Winnipeg clubs who were relying on those same players to fulfill certain spots.

“Some teams had to withdraw because they didn’t have enough players,” comments Lindsey. In addition to this, he notes that the loss of players meant the loss of funds; another big hit to the Winnipeg clubs.

As a result of this, only two Hanover teams have been accepted into the WYSA while all others have been denied.

With that being said, the majority of local players will not be affected. Anderson says approximately 98% of Hanover players will not likely notice the situation.

Lindsey says, as President, this was one of his goals. “We did not want to negatively impact local Hanover players from the actions taken by [Winnipeg] parents.”

Still, for those players who are in limbo, Anderson says his board is going to great lengths to ensure they will still be able to play some manner of soccer this coming season.

A WYSA committee is currently investigating all claims and allegations.