By Andrew Warshaw
October 18 – Canadian women’s skipper Christine Sinclair says she has no regrets over comments that led to her receiving a four-game suspension from FIFA for displaying “unsporting behaviour towards match officials” after the London 2012 Olympic semi-final.
Sinclair (pictured top and below, left) was quoted as saying Canada felt “cheated” by some of the decisions following her country’s dramatic 4-3 defeat to the United States at London 2012 that left outsiders Canada with the bronze medal instead of at least silver.
“I don’t regret what I said,” Sinclair said in a conference call.
“We had just lost the chance at playing for an Olympic gold medal and that’s a dream that all of us have, and it was a very intense time and I was emotional and I wouldn’t want to change that.”
Sinclair was also fined 3,000 Swiss francs (£2,000/$3,250/€2,500), which the Canadian Soccer Association has agreed to pay.
The veteran skipper scored all three goals for Canada in the Olympic semi-final at Old Trafford.
Canada held the lead until the Americans equalised with a hugely controversial 80th-minute penalty, then prevented a massive upset by notching an even later winner.
Sinclair and several teammates lashed out publicly at referee Christiana Pedersen after the game.
“We feel like we didn’t lose, we feel like it was taken from us,” Sinclair said moments after the final whistle.
“It’s a shame in a game like that that was so important, the ref decided the result before it started.”
Asked if she truly believed the match was fixed, Sinclair said: “No, I don’t ultimately believe that [Pedersen] went into the match hoping the US would win.
“[But] I still can’t watch the game.
“It’s still a touchy subject.”
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734914046labto1734914046ofdlr1734914046owedi1734914046sni@w1734914046ahsra1734914046w.wer1734914046dna1734914046