Advertisement

Edmonton soccer coach wanted for fraud in $40K fund disappearance arrested in Sherwood Park

Soccer coach Randy Knodel, 46, is charged with fraud and uttering a forged document. Credit: EMSA

A youth soccer coach wanted on over a dozen charges related to the disappearance of thousands of dollars in team funds was arrested over the weekend.

The Edmonton Police Service said Randy Knodel, 46, was found inside a vehicle in Sherwood Park on Saturday just after 6 a.m., and arrested by RCMP.

Knodel faces seven counts of fraud over $5,000, five counts of fraud under $5,000 and uttering a forged document.

He was the coach of the Selects Football Club U11 tier 1 boys team out of south Edmonton, which had fundraised for years to attend the Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup International Showcase on the weekend of Feb. 15 to 17.

An undated photo of the Selects Football Club U11 tier 1 boy’s soccer team in Edmonton, Alta. Supplied

The team of 20 boys, plus about 25 to 30 family members, were set to fly to Las Vegas.

Story continues below advertisement

However in the week leading up to the trip, for which the team raised around $60,000, it came to light that about $40,000 of those funds has disappeared, along with the team’s coach.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Parents also discovered their flights and hotel were never booked and the team was never entered in to the competition in Nevada.

The parents launched a GoFundMe to try and raise new funds to attend the same tournament next year — where their entrance fee has already been waived in light of the situation — and/or to go to a different tournament in Minnesota this summer. As of publishing, the fundraiser has brought in nearly $60,000.

Click to play video: 'Edmonton soccer team devastated after $40K tournament fund disappears days before event'
Edmonton soccer team devastated after $40K tournament fund disappears days before event

In the meantime, Knodel has been released on a promise to appear in court March 17.

— With a file from The Canadian Press

Advertisement

Sponsored content

AdChoices