BCN Sports & Barca Academy - Moving the Goal Posts

Veiled behind the effects of COVID-19, BCN Sports Services Inc. has emailed clients that they are ending operations.  On April 30, an email sent to clients across Canada states "Despite our efforts to find ways to make our project financially viable, we are forced to stop our operations, and given the position of the company we intend to file for voluntary insolvency as the best way for orderly closure." BCN Sports Services is the licensed operator of Barca Soccer Academies in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.  The Barca Academy, also known as FCB Escola, is the worldwide academy offshoot of the famous Spanish soccer team FC Barcelona, known for such superstars as Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suárez. The BCN Sports email reads "the extraordinary and unanticipated circumstances around the pandemic COVID 19 have resulted in the cancellation of a number of national and international events, with a very negative impact on the fin...

Canadian company hides behind COVID-19, denying thousands in refunds to families. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, a Canadian company that organizes soccer camps,training and trips, has refused to refund fees to families. BCN Sports Services Canada Inc.  is the co-organizer for the  Barca Academy  soccer training programs in Canada. On March 13 th , Edmonton families were sent an email informing them that the March Break Summer Camp being held ten days later was cancelled. "Not surprising at all." says Danny. He had registered his son for the week long camp and paid for the registration and required uniform, a little more than $500. "The situation had changed so much from when we registered, but by then a lot of things were being cancelled. Gatherings under 250 were still okay, but I understood the move. This was a spring break camp. It was best to give families a chance to find alternatives." But then Danny was hit with the bad ne...