Sports
FIFA deducts points from Canada in Olympic women’s soccer tourney due to drone use
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FIFA deducted six points from the Canadian women’s national soccer team playing in the 2024 Paris Olympics soccer tournament and fined them $226,000 for using drones to spy on opponents.
Canadian Soccer Association coaches Beverly Priestman, Joseph Lombardi, and Jasmine Mander were also suspended from taking part in any football-related activity for one year.
FIFA said that the Canadians violated Article 13 of the Disciplinary Code, which covers offensive behavior and violations of the principles of fair play, and Article 6.1 of the OFT Regulations after two assistant coaches were caught using drones to spy on New Zealand’s practices before their first game.
In a statement released Saturday, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer said it is “exploring rights of appeal” regarding points deduction.
“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. 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,” David Shoemaker, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee, said in a statement.
Verdicts and hearings are heard by The Court of Arbitration for Sport, which has an Olympic court set up in Paris.
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The governing body of world soccer said Priestman and the two assistants were “responsible for offensive behavior and violation of the principles of fair play.”
The Canadians won the Olympic title in 2021 at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, and Priestman was suspended and then removed from the Olympic tournament.
With interim coach Andy Spence, Canada beat New Zealand 2-1.
The Canadians still have a chance to advance in the tournament, but they must win every game in Group A and hope to advance by accumulating points in the standings. Their next game is against France on Sunday before they take on Colombia on Thursday.
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