No refunds given after academy shuts down
Company that organizes soccer academy with Spanish club declares bankruptcy
Between jobs and with his son already enrolled in the Barça Academy World Cup last month in Barcelona, Mike Smith figured he’d turn it into a two-week Spanish excursion, at a cost of $10,000.
That included $2,600 for this year’s ninth annual youth soccer tournament, April 6-9, involving players and their families from more than 20 countries.
But the competition was cancelled March 10, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
That should have been the end of the story. However, BCN Sports Services Canada, which for six years has operated the Barça Academy and soccer camps in this country, including Montreal, recently declared bankruptcy and has failed to reimburse the affected families. BCN operates under a license arrangement with FC Barcelona and is responsible for the financial aspects of the Canadian operation.
Smith, who has a son and daughter — both goalkeepers — affected, has started a Facebook group for others who are seeking refunds and has been active on Twitter, imploring BCN to stop its “corruption.” As the story starts gaining traction worldwide, Smith hopes he and others will receive a financial resolution.
“Most parents understand the implications with what’s happening around the world, no problem,” Smith said of the global COVID -19 health crisis. "But basically we’re wondering where this money has gone?
"They knew in mid-march the event wasn’t going to take place. Parents were still signing up online for the summer season. The owner of BCN Sports still was accumulating money with the intent to file for bankruptcy, basically to bilk Canadians as much as possible.
“The more (attention) we get out there, the better our chances,” Smith added. “If not, we’ll make them look bad.”
Francisco Cervera is listed as the president of BCN, Stephen Tung its vice-president. An email to the company Wednesday wasn’t answered.
However Sabrina Carrozza, who handles communications for FC Barcelona in North and South America, claimed the situation won’t go unresolved, although stressing the iconic club isn’t legally or financially obligated.
“The one thing we want to stress is we have the families’ backs. We’re not going to leave them alone in this situation,” Carrozza told the Montreal Gazette from Long Island, N.Y. “We’re doing everything that we can to work with the partner to help and support the families.”
Furthermore, an FC Barcelona source told the Montreal Gazette the club is working to help ensure BCN Sports assumes full responsibility, including its financial obligations. One of the club’s first moves was contacting the travel agency BCN hired for the hotel accommodations in Barcelona. It has asked the agency to at least refund part of the money so BCN can partially start refunding families.
The tournament was to include a tour of Camp Nou Stadium, the club’s home, along with training sessions on the same pitch used by Lionel Messi, Barcelona’s star captain and forward. It also covered the hotel and meals.
Smith and others received communication from FC Barcelona on May 11, not only pledging its support, but promising to use all its resources — including legal action, if necessary — to ensure BCN Sports deals with the financial consequences and resolves the problem.
“We’re not going to abandon you,” the statement concluded.
Luna Dallal, the mother of three boys, spent approximately $3,000 for summer leagues in Laval. With virtually no notice or warning, they were cancelled as well. She remains optimistic of getting a refund, yet has received no news.
“We understand the pandemic, but every penny counts,” Dallal said. "We’re very disappointed. We’re torn. We love Barça. The company we’re upset with is BCN Sports. Their reputation’s at stake.
“My kids love the team. Their friends are there. They love the culture of Barça. They were motivated by the coaches and the technical directors are professional.”
A Barça Academy source, who requested anonymity and is now unemployed, didn’t hide his displeasure over the way BCN Sports has handled the situation.
“It’s really a disaster, to be honest, what happened to the families,” he said. “I know the families all appreciated my work.”
The employee received a call saying BCN was declaring insolvency. He had no time to retrieve personal information from his laptop; BCN deleted all the files.
“This was an experience. In the beginning, it was super nice,” he said. “But how it ends is terrible. What they did to hundreds of families ... I can’t believe it. I really hope they get the refunds that they deserve. It should have been done. I hope things are going to change.”