FIFA has recently imposed additional sanctions on the Canada women’s soccer team due to the use of drones to record opponents’ practices during the Paris Olympics. The organization decided to deduct six points from the team in the women’s soccer tournament, which is equivalent to two wins. In addition to the point deduction, Coach Bev Priestman has been banned from participating in world competitions for a year.
It was reported by the Associated Press that FIFA also imposed a fine of 200,000 Swiss francs on Canada’s FA while banning other coaches involved in the scandal. The officials were held responsible for offensive behavior and violation of fair play principles in connection with the team’s use of drones. This decision came after Priestman had already been suspended by Canada Soccer and sent back home from the Paris Games. Staffer Joseph Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander were also prohibited from participating in the Olympic women’s soccer tournament.
Despite the scandal, Canada Soccer made the decision not to withdraw from the Olympics as the players were not directly involved in the drone incident. The hope was to avoid further penalties from FIFA by taking swift action in response to the situation. Lombardi was caught flying a drone over New Zealand’s practice prior to their Olympics opener, and admitted to watching two training sessions to gain insights into the team’s tactics.
Under interim coach Andy Spence, Canada managed to secure a 2-1 victory in the match against New Zealand. FIFA expedited its investigation and disciplinary procedures in light of the ongoing Olympic tournament. The appeals judges of the organization found Priestman and the two assistants responsible for their actions, citing offensive behavior and violation of fair play principles.
This incident has also raised questions about the use of drones by the Canadian national teams in the past, with allegations emerging about the men’s team attempting to use drones during the Copa América tournament. According to TSN, both the men’s and women’s national teams have a history of relying on drones and spying for strategic advantages. This practice was reportedly utilized during the women’s team’s journey to a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics under Priestman’s leadership.
Canada’s upcoming match is scheduled against host country France on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. The scandal surrounding the use of drones has certainly cast a shadow over the team’s participation in the Paris Olympics, prompting FIFA to take decisive action to uphold the integrity of the sport.