PARIS — FIFA deducted six points from Canada in the Paris Olympics women’s soccer tournament and banned three coaches for one year each on Saturday in a drone spying scandal.
The stunning swath of punishments include a 200,000 Swiss francs ($226,000) fine for the Canadian soccer federation in a case that has spiralled at the Olympic Games. Two assistant coaches were caught using drones to spy on opponent New Zealand’s practices before their opening game Thursday. Canada won 2-1.
The points deduction, if upheld, does not eliminate Canada from the tournament but makes it much more difficult for the defending champions to advance.
The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer both announced they were “exploring rights of an appeal.”
“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,” said David Shoemaker, CEO and Secretary General of the COC. “In support of the athletes, together with Canada Soccer, we are exploring rights of appeal related to the six point deduction at this Olympic tournament.”
“Canada Soccer is disappointed with the impact of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision on our athletes,” said Canada Soccer CEO & General Secretary Kevin Blue. “We are exploring options to appeal on the basis that it is excessively punitive towards our Women’s National Team — who were not involved in any unethical behaviour.”
Head coach Bev Priestman, who led Canada to the Olympic title in Tokyo in 2021, already was suspended by the national soccer federation then removed from the Olympic tournament. She is now banned from all soccer for one year.
FIFA fast-tracked its own disciplinary process by asking its appeals judges to handle the case.
FIFA judges found Priestman and her two assistants “were each found responsible for offensive behaviour and violation of the principles of fair play.”
Priestman and the Canadian federation now can challenge their sanctions at the Court of Arbitration’s special Olympic court in Paris.
