Vancouver FC Owners Counter Lawsuit from Former Coach Ghotbi

A legal dispute has emerged between the owners of Vancouver FC and their former head coach, Afshin Ghotbi, who is seeking the repayment of a loan amounting to $716,000. Ghotbi claims the club has failed to repay the principal and interest on a $500,000 loan he provided in 2023. In response, the club’s owners, SixFive Sports and Entertainment, and managing director Dean Shillington have filed a counterclaim, alleging that Ghotbi’s lawsuit constitutes “blackmail by litigation.”

In his civil claim, filed in February 2025, Ghotbi asserts that the club promised he would be first in line for repayment. However, SixFive’s response challenges this narrative, contending that it was Ghotbi who proposed the idea of investing in the club to Rob Friend, the club president. Discussions led to Ghotbi deciding to provide the loan at an annual interest rate of 12 percent, with a potential option to convert it into equity.

According to the club’s response, Ghotbi was not a priority creditor as he claims. They argue he was aware that his loan would be subordinate to existing secured creditors and that repayment depended on future liquidity events. It states that Ghotbi initially indicated an intention to convert his loan into equity but later demanded repayment early in 2025.

The counterclaim also accuses Ghotbi of breaching settlement privilege by sharing sensitive information with the media, which they allege was intended to damage the reputation of SixFive and Shillington. The lawsuit claims that Ghotbi improperly disseminated the Notice of Civil Claim to various media outlets, both Canadian and international.

While Ghotbi maintains that his departure from the club was mutual, court documents from SixFive and Shillington assert that he was actually terminated. They state that the mutual characterization was made at Ghotbi’s request to protect his professional standing.

Vancouver FC and Pacific FC’s Financial Struggles

Vancouver FC is part of the Canadian Professional League (CPL), which is Canada’s premier professional men’s soccer league. The club, which debuted in 2023, is facing additional challenges, particularly with its sister club, Pacific FC, based in Langford near Victoria. Negotiations between Pacific FC and the City of Langford for a stadium agreement and lease for an indoor training centre have reached a standstill. The city cited outstanding debts owed by the club, including $691,000 related to a training centre lease and $90,000 in rental fees.

As a result of these financial issues, the City of Langford has restricted access to Starlight Stadium, allowing Pacific FC to use the facility only on a game-by-game basis, contingent upon timely payment of stadium fees. A statement from the city emphasized the need to protect taxpayer interests while allowing the upcoming season to proceed.

Pacific FC’s managing director, Ross Marshall, expressed the club’s commitment to the 2026 season and stated that they would meet the requested payment conditions. However, he acknowledged ongoing disagreements with the City of Langford regarding the interpretation of their existing agreements.

As the legal battle unfolds and financial challenges persist, the future of both Vancouver FC and Pacific FC remains uncertain. The outcome of Ghotbi’s lawsuit and the negotiations with Langford will have significant implications for the clubs and their stakeholders in the coming months.