The City Section boys’ soccer playoffs are in turmoil.
On Wednesday, City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos announced that Marquez and South East have been removed from the Open Division playoffs because of ineligible players that violated CIF bylaw 600, which bans players from participating in outside leagues during the season of their sport. Both players are involved with MLS Next, a soccer development program.
South East reached the Open Division final after beating Marquez in the semifinals. After South East was removed from the playoffs, Marquez was then scheduled to face El Camino Real in the final but also is out. As a result, two schools that were beaten in the first round, Birmingham and Venice, will play Thursday at Birmingham for the right to face El Camino Real at 6 p.m. Saturday at Pasadena City College for the Open Division title.
Following an appeal by athletic director Rick Prizant, Birmingham has received a waiver from the California Interscholastic Federation, the state’s governing body for high school sports, to have five players regain eligibility after they played for club teams thinking their season was over two weeks ago.
Franklin was also removed from the playoffs, and Chatsworth and L.A. Jordan forfeited games this season for similar outside league participation. Also Wednesday night, RFK forfeited its City Division II semifinal to Garfield because of another ineligible player.
“It’s a big mess,” Lagos said.
Prizant, whose school is part of the West Valley League, is proposing to change bylaw 600.
“This proves we should get rid of the rule,” he said.
Lagos emphasizes before the season to coaches that players can’t play in club competitions or in showcases during their high school soccer season. Lagos said she doesn’t believe any of the head coaches were aware of the violations. She received an email last week informing her of a possible South East violation and another Monday regarding Marquez.
