Canada’s women’s football team faces a setback at the Olympics as FIFA imposes sanctions following a drone incident during training sessions, resulting in a six-point deduction and a coaching ban.
FIFA has penalized Canada’s women’s football team with a deduction of six points from their Olympic group standings.
Additionally, coach Bev Priestman has been banned for one year, and the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) fined £175,720. CSA officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander also face one-year suspensions.
The sanctions come after a drone was used to observe a rival team’s training sessions, violating FIFA’s fair play principles.
Priestman, who was removed as head coach before Canada’s opening game against New Zealand, withdrew voluntarily amidst the investigation.
In a statement, FIFA cited offensive behavior and fair play violations connected to Canada’s women’s representative team.
Investigations by FIFA and CSA revealed Priestman’s likely awareness of the incident.
The CSA is contemplating an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against FIFA’s decision.
Kevin Blue and David Shoemaker, CSA and Canadian Olympic Committee executives, respectively, expressed this possibility in their reaction to the sanctions.
Assistant coach Andy Spence has assumed interim coaching responsibilities for Canada’s remaining Olympic matches.
Despite their opening victory over New Zealand, Canada now faces a deficit of minus three points in Group A, with upcoming matches against France and Colombia.
