Canada’s women’s soccer team faced severe consequences at the Paris Olympics after a drone spying scandal. FIFA took away six points from Canada and banned three coaches for one year each. The coaches, including head coach Bev Priestman, were found guilty of offensive behavior and violating fair play principles. The Canadian soccer federation was also fined $226,000 for the incident.
Priestman, who led Canada to an Olympic title in Tokyo, had already been suspended and removed from the tournament. Her two assistants, Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander, were sent home for using a drone to spy on New Zealand’s practices. Interim coach Andy Spence took over and Canada won the game 2-1.
The coaches and the federation can challenge their sanctions at the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s special Olympic court in Paris. Priestman, a 38-year-old from England, was hired in 2020 and is under contract through the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The scandal revealed suspicions of systemic spying over the years.
The points deduction doesn’t eliminate Canada from the tournament, but they will need to win all three remaining games in Group A to have a chance to advance. They face group leader France next and then Colombia.
The swift and severe punishments from FIFA have shaken the Canadian women’s soccer team. The scandal highlights the importance of fair play and respecting the rules of the game. Moving forward, Canada will need to regroup and focus on their upcoming matches to secure a spot in the knockout rounds.
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