FIFA has dealt a significant blow to Canada’s women’s soccer team at the Paris Olympics, deducting six points and issuing a one-year ban to three coaches in response to a drone-spying scandal. The Canadian Soccer Federation was also fined 200,000 Swiss francs (about $226,000) amid escalating controversy at the Summer Games.
The scandal erupted when two assistant coaches were caught using drones to monitor New Zealand’s training sessions ahead of their opening match last Wednesday. The Canadian Soccer Federation and the Canadian Olympic Committee announced late Saturday that they are considering an appeal, particularly concerning the points deduction.
David Shoemaker, CEO and Secretary General of the Canadian Olympic Committee, expressed sympathy for the athletes, stating, “We feel terrible for the Canadian women’s Olympic soccer team, who, to our knowledge, were not involved in this incident. To support our athletes, we, along with Canada Soccer, are exploring our options to appeal the six-point deduction.”
Head coach Bev Priestman, who guided Canada to victory in Tokyo in 2021, was suspended and subsequently removed from the Olympic tournament. There are suspicions that this spying incident might be part of a broader pattern over the years.
Priestman, along with assistants Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander, has been banned from all soccer activities for one year. FIFA’s decision described their actions as “offensive behavior and a violation of the principles of fair play.”
The case is now poised to be reviewed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s special Olympic court in Paris, which handles urgent cases during the Games. If the Court upholds the points deduction, Canada will need to win all their Group A matches and secure a spot in the quarterfinals starting next Saturday, even if it means finishing third in their group.
Canada’s upcoming matches include a clash with Group A leader France in Saint-Etienne on Sunday, followed by a game against Colombia in Nice on Thursday.
Point deductions of this magnitude during a tournament are rare, making FIFA’s action unprecedented. Kevin Blue, CEO of Canada Soccer, criticized the penalties as excessively harsh on the players who were not involved in the wrongdoing. “We are exploring options to appeal because this punishment seems disproportionately severe for our women’s national team players,” he said. “Canada Soccer acted swiftly to suspend the implicated staff and is conducting a broad independent review that could lead to further disciplinary measures.”
This scandal adds to the embarrassment for the Canadian federation, which is working closely with FIFA to organize the 2026 Men’s World Cup, set to be the largest in history with matches across North America. The 2024 Olympics’ women’s soccer tournament, compacted into 17 days, has prompted FIFA to expedite its disciplinary process.
The Canadian federation has been held accountable for failing to ensure its staff adhered to tournament regulations. There is no indication that the players were involved in the spying activities.
“We are currently addressing what appears to be a systemic ethical lapse,” Blue remarked during a press conference. “While this process is painful, it is a necessary step toward rectification.”
Coach Bev Priestman, who hails from England and was appointed in 2020, is under contract through the 2027 Women’s World Cup. She had already stepped aside from the team’s first match after the scandal surfaced. The interim coach, Andy Spence, led Canada to a 2-1 victory over New Zealand. However, further revelations led to Priestman’s suspension.
Published By:
Cricket Khabhar
Published On:
July 28, 2024