Former Vancouver FC coach sues soccer club for alleged $716K loan default

Karin Larsen · CBC News

· Posted: Dec 30, 2025 5:13 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

The former head coach of Vancouver FC of the Canadian Premier League is suing team ownership alleging he is owed over $700,000 in principal and interest on a half-million-dollar loan he extended to the club more than two years ago.

Afshin Ghotbi says in a notice of civil claim that SixFive Sports & Entertainment and managing partner Dean Shillington owe him a total of $715,879.45 in principal and interest.

Ghotbi was named Vancouver FC’s first coach in 2022, bringing an extensive resumé in international coaching and soccer development. He resigned this past summer. 

Ghotbi’s claim alleges Vancouver FC ownership was “dishonest” and met demands for repayment of his loan with “excuses, justifications and requests for more time.”

“The defendants never had, nor do they presently have, any intention to repay the half-million loan plus interest,” reads the claim.

None of the allegations have been tested in court and responses have not been filed by the defendants.

In an emailed statement to CBC, SixFive Sports & Entertainment said: “We will not litigate Mr. Ghotbi’s claim in the media, and we will proceed with the usual [c]ourt process to establish the facts and applicable law regarding the loan."

“This matter has no impact on the ongoing management of the business or SixFive’s continued investment in the growth of professional soccer in Canada.” 

Pacific FC's Dario Zanatta, left, knees the ball away from Vancouver FC's Kunle Dada-Luke in Langford, B.C., on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (Chad Hipolito/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Ghotbi claims that in July 2023, SixFive director Rob Friend said Vancouver FC was experiencing cash-flow problems and asked if he would be willing to help the team financially.

After speaking with Shillington, Ghotbi agreed to advance a half million dollar loan at a rate of 12 per cent per annum and a repayment date of July 14, 2024, says the claim.

Ghotbi says terms of the loan gave him priority repayment as a creditor, meaning he would be first in line for a payout. He says in the claim that without that specific condition, he would never have handed over the half million dollars.

The claim says as the July 2024 repayment day approached, Shillington told Ghotbi that Vancouver FC still needed his money and asked to extend the repayment date at an increased interest rate of 20 per cent.

According to the lawsuit Ghotbi agreed because he “did not want to cause Vancouver FC financial hardship.” It says terms of the renewed loan included that it would be repaid on Ghotbi’s demand.

When Ghotbi resigned as coach in July 2025, he requested his money, plus interest. That’s when he learned from Shillington that he was not a priority creditor, according to the claim. 

In the months that followed Ghotbi says he discovered of his own accord that two entities controlled by Shillington, Knightsbridge Capital Property Finance Inc. and KAPX Finance Inc., both had registered security interest against the club that ranked higher in priority, according to the lawsuit.

It says on Oct. 15, 2025, Shillington advised Ghotbi that the half-million-dollar loan plus interest could not be repaid.

In a statement emailed to CBC, Shillington said he “categorically disagree[s] with the allegations asserted against me personally.”

“SixFive engaged in discussions in good faith to explore a potential resolution. Those discussions were conducted on a without-prejudice basis as part of settlement efforts. To the extent the claim improperly references or relies on those discussions, such use is disputed,” he wrote.

The lawsuit is the latest bad news for Canada’s top professional men’s soccer league. 

In September, another SixFive-owned CPL club – Pacific FC of Langford, B.C. – was put up for sale. And last month, Valour FC of Winnipeg announced it was ceasing operations after amassing millions of dollars in debt. 

In an emailed statement, CPL senior director of communications Laura Armstrong said: “Club strength continues to be a priority as we prepare for the upcoming season. This matter will not affect the operations of Vancouver FC or Pacific FC.”