July 29 – Canada’s women’s football team have been deducted six points at the Olympics and coach Bev Priestman banned for one year in the latest fallout from the drone spying scandal that has rocked the defending gold medalists.
Priestman had already been thrown out of the competition along with assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi after a drone was flown over New Zealand’s training session last week.
FIFA announced the latest sanctions – which also include a fine of 200,000 Swiss francs for the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) – a day after English-born Priestman was removed as Canada’s Olympic head coach. Lombardi and Mander have also been suspended by Fifa for a year.
FIFA said the use of the drone by Canada’s team was in violation of its principles.
“The officials were each found responsible for offensive behaviour and violation of the principles of fair play in connection with the CSA’s Women’s representative team’s drones usage in the scope of the Olympic football tournament,” said a statement.
Priestman “voluntarily” stepped aside from her coaching duties for Canada’s opening game against the Kiwis after the New Zealand Olympic Committee reported the drone incident. The Canadians won the game 2-1.
The CSA can appeal against the FIFA ruling before the Court of Arbitration for Sport and in a statement its chief executive Kevin Blue and Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive David Shoemaker both said an appeal was under consideration.
“We are exploring options to appeal on the basis that it is excessively punitive towards our Women’s National Team players – who were not involved in any unethical behaviour,” Blue said.
“Canada Soccer took swift action to suspend the implicated staff members and is also proceeding with a broad independent review that may lead to further disciplinary action.”
Shoemaker added: “We feel terrible for the athletes on the Canadian Women’s Olympic Soccer Team who as far as we understand played no role in this matter.”
Shoemaker earlier told reporters in Paris that Priestman was likely aware that drones were used to spy on New Zealand’s practices.
Priestman has denied the allegations but said in a statement she was “absolutely heartbroken for the players.”
“I would like to apologise from the bottom of my heart for the impact this situation has had on all of them,” she said.
“I know how hard they have worked following a very difficult year in 2023, and that they are a group of people who care very much about sportsmanship and integrity.”
Referencing the ongoing CSA investigation, she added: “As the leader of the team on the field, I want to take accountability, and I plan to fully co-operate with the investigation.”
Canada’s government said it would be withholding funding for the officials who were banned by FIFA.
Carla Qualtrough, the country’s sports minister, described sending a drone to monitor New Zealand’s training session as “cheating”.
She added the issue as “deeply regrettable” and said it was causing “significant distraction and embarrassment for Team Canada and all Canadians”.
“It is completely unfair to Canadian players and to opposing teams. It undermines the integrity of the game itself,” Qualtrough said. “Given that the women’s programme receives funding from Sport Canada, we are withholding funding relating to suspended Canada Soccer officials for the duration of their FIFA sanction.”
Meanwhile, Blue revealed he was aware of a separate drone incident involving the men’s national team at the recent Copa America. He said it was his understanding that it did not have an impact on the competitive integrity of the competition but would not offer details. Canada reached the Copa semifinals, losing 2-0 to Argentina.
The entire debacle has raised questions about the practices of both Canada’s men’s and women’s soccer teams and how widespread the issue could be. Canadian officials said they suspected a “systemic ethical shortcoming.”
While the six-point deduction was a hammer blow to Canada’s hopes of retaining their Olympic title, they still have a good chance of progressing after being handed a dramatic lifeline in a 2-1 win over hosts France.
Vanessa Gilles scored the winning goal in injury time on Sunday as Canada came from behind. They now sit third in the group table on zero points but victory over Colombia in their final group game would secure qualification for the quarter-finals.
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