WOMEN’S football defending champions Canada are on the verge of crashing out of the Paris 2024 Olympics after having six points deducted and their head coach Bev Priestman banned for a year.
Global football governing body FIFA made the decisions today following a drone spying scandal that has now all but ended Canada’s gold medal defence.
The Canadian Soccer Association, which said it was exploring how it could appeal the six-point deduction, was also fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($226,346) in a case that has rocked the Paris Games.
Priestman, who led the team to the Olympic title in Tokyo three yearsago, and Canadian officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander have been banned from any football-related activity for one year for “offensive behaviour and violation of the principles of fair play”, FIFA stated.
New Zealand had complained that Canadian staff flew drones over their training sessions before their opening match at the Games, which Canada won 2-1 on Thursday.
Following FIFA’s ruling, the reigning Olympic champions will drop to minus three points in Group A, with two matches left to play.
The decision remains subject to a potential appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“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 Canadian Olympic Committee.
“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 CEO and General Secretary, Kevin Blue, described the FIFA decision as “excessively punitive” towards the players.
Canada are scheduled to face hosts France, who top Group A on three points, tomorrow, before taking on Colombia, who like New Zealand have no points, on Wednesday.
