The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has made a decision regarding the joint appeal from the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canada Soccer concerning FIFA’s deduction of six points from Canada’s women’s Olympic team. The appeal was dismissed by CAS, upholding FIFA’s decision.
In the original ruling, FIFA not only deducted six points from Canada’s women’s soccer team but also imposed one-year bans on head coach Bev Priestman, assistant Jasmine Mander, and analyst Joseph Lombardi. Despite the dismissal of the appeal, the suspensions were not part of the appeal process.
The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer expressed their gratitude to the CAS for the prompt handling of the case, even though they were disappointed with the outcome. They praised the players for their resilience and determination throughout the tournament and showed support for them in their upcoming match against Colombia.
Following the incident where analyst Joseph Lombardi was caught using a drone to spy on New Zealand’s practice sessions, Canada Soccer chose not to withdraw from the Olympics. The team took swift action to address the issue, hoping to avoid further penalties from FIFA.
Currently, Canada has won its first two group games but sits on zero points after the deduction. The upcoming match against Colombia will be crucial, as a victory could secure a spot in the next round if Canada ranks as one of the top two third-place teams in the three groups.
The decision from CAS serves as a reminder of the importance of fair play and abiding by the rules in sports competitions. It also highlights the consequences of actions that violate regulations set by governing bodies like FIFA. Canada’s women’s soccer team now faces a challenging road ahead in the Olympic tournament, but their determination and unity will be key in overcoming this setback.
