Whitecaps player alleging sexual misconduct stunned to learn of coach's rehiring

A former Vancouver Whitecaps player who alleges she was the victim of sexual misconduct by former Whitecaps women's coach Hubert Busby Jr. is speaking out after learning he has been reinstated as head coach of the Jamaican women's national team.

Malloree Enoch says Busby's past alleged behaviour should disqualify him from coaching at any level.

"Not women. Not men. To me, it's a moral issue," she said. "I wouldn't want my child playing for someone like that."

Enoch claims in 2011, Busby, the then Whitecaps women's head coach, used his position of power to sexually coerce her during recruiting trips.

Enoch brought the allegations forward in 2021, not long after former Whitecaps and Canadian U-20 women's team head coach Bob Birarda was charged with sexual offences against four players. Birarda eventually pleaded guilty to four charges and was sentenced to jail time.

As a result of Enoch's claim, Busby was suspended as head coach of the Jamaican women's team, a position he was hired for in 2020. The Jamaica Football Federation asked FIFA's ethics committee to investigate.

In announcing Busby's reinstatement this May, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) stated Busby had been cleared by FIFA.

"He was removed from the position when the JFF requested FIFA to investigate unsavoury media reports originating in Europe," said the JFF in a post on Facebook. "FIFA subsequently cleared Mr. Busby." 

When FIFA was asked for its response, it sent this cryptic statement:

"The preliminary investigation has been closed, in accordance with the FIFA Code of Ethics and statute of limitations that applied at the time of the alleged incidents. This is without prejudice that new circumstances may reopen this investigation in accordance with Art. 85 of the FIFA Code of Ethics."

Enoch learned about Busby's rehiring by Googling his name. 

"It's kind of history repeating itself, where time goes by, and the coach disappears for a bit and then pops back up coaching again," she said. " And it doesn't seem that there's been a change to create a safe environment for players to speak up and have due process."

Enoch said she filed her own complaint against Busby with FIFA in September of this year. 

CBC has reached out to the JFF and requested an interview with Busby but has not heard back.

Busby has in the past denied all allegations.

Enoch said she was heartened to receive a phone call from current Vancouver Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster after her story went public. 

"He apologized and he wasn't even there when the situation happened," said Enoch. "But we talked through what happened, and he talked about wanting to make safeguards moving forward." 

Enoch said she's since spoken to Whitecaps staff about ideas for player safety.

"I think in this situation, Jamaica handled it quite a bit more on the defence ... versus trying to really understand the facts," she said.