CPL’s Vancouver FC settles lawsuit with former head coach Afshin Ghotbi

VANCOUVER — Former Vancouver FC head coach Afshin Ghotbi and SixFive Sports & Entertainment, the ownership group behind the Canadian Premier League team, say they’ve settled a lawsuit tied to a disputed $500,000 loan.

Court filings alleged Ghotbi loaned the money to SixFive in 2023 after Vancouver FC ran into cash-flow problems.

The lawsuit, filed in December, claimed Ghotbi was later told the loan ranked behind other creditors despite earlier assurances his debt was secured against company assets.

In response filings, SixFive and managing partner Dean Shillington denied the allegations, saying Ghotbi knew other creditors had priority and accusing him of improperly sharing confidential settlement discussions with media outlets. The defendants also filed a counterclaim alleging breach of confidence and abuse of process.

Ghotbi, Vancouver FC’s first-ever head coach, was fired by the club in July 2025 after posting an 18-37-20 record across all competitions.

In a joint statement Wednesday, the parties said they reached an amicable settlement under confidential terms, with SixFive agreeing to fulfill its financial obligations to Ghotbi.


This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2026.

The Canadian Press