FIFA came down hard on Canada Soccer on Saturday for a drone spying scandal, deducting six points from the Canadian women’s soccer team at the Paris Games and banning three staff members, including head coach Bev Priestman, for one year each.
The punishments include a fine of 313,000 for the national federation in a case that has spiralled over the last week. Two staff members were caught using drones to spy on New Zealand’s practices before the teams played their opening game last Thursday, a 2-1 Canada win.
Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) chief David Shoemaker issued a statement suggesting the point deduction would be appealed.
“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 Kevin Blue issued his own statement in support of the players, confirming an intention to appeal.
“We are exploring options to appeal on the basis that it is excessively punitive towards our Women’s National Team – who were not involved in any unethical behaviour,” Blue said.
“Canada Soccer took swift action to suspend the implicated staff members and is also proceeding with a broad independent review that may lead to further disciplinary action.”
Canada Soccer was held responsible for not ensuring its staff complied with tournament rules. Priestman, who led Canada to the Olympic title in Tokyo in 2021, already was suspended by the national federation then removed from the Olympic tournament.
“Obviously what has transpired has been very unfortunate and difficult,” said acting head coach Andy Spence, who spoke about a half-hour before the announcement was made.
“For that, I think it’s an opportunity for us to say that that doesn’t align personally with what I believe in, with what Canada Soccer believes in, the values that we believe in and the team believes in, and I had no party to it.
“I think now all of my energy and all of my focus has to be on pushing the team and helping the team move forward.”
<a href=”https://t.co/M18jw5zUWC”>pic.twitter.com/M18jw5zUWC</a>
—@dmatheson8
The staff members and Canada Soccer can challenge their sanctions at the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s special Olympic court in Paris. That tribunal is set up for urgent hearings and verdicts at the Olympics.
WATCH | Priestman likely aware of spying, Canadian Olympic Committee says:
Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive officer David Shoemaker says the head coach of the national women’s soccer team was likely aware drones were used to spy on another team’s practices in France. Kevin Blue, the Canada Soccer CEO and general secretary, says there is suspicion ‘this type of behaviour’ is ‘systemic.’
The points deduction, if upheld by CAS judges, does not eliminate Canada from the tournament. It could mean the team must win all three games in Group A and hope to advance with three points, likely as runner-up in the standings.
“Devastating. Reckless and shameful for the staff to put these players in this position. Gutted for the #CanWNT,” former Canadian national team member Kara Lang wrote on X.
FIFA fast-tracked its own disciplinary process by asking its appeals judges to handle the case.
FIFA judges found Priestman and her two assistants “were each found responsible for offensive behaviour and violation of the principles of fair play.”
WATCH | COC supports Priestman’s suspension from Olympics:
Canadian Olympic Committee CEO and Secretary General David Shoemaker discusses Canada Soccer’s decision to suspend women’s national team head coach Bev Priestman for the remainder of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Canada Soccer was found responsible for failing to respect the applicable FIFA regulations, the statement said, in connection with its failure to ensure the compliance of its participating officials of the (tournament) with the prohibition on flying drones over any training sites.
Canada is scheduled to play its final group game on Wednesday against Colombia in Nice.
WATCH | Canada Soccer CEO addresses spying scandal:
Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue addressed the media from Paris, regarding instances where both Canada’s women’s and men’s teams were involved in spying on other countries’ closed practices with the use of a drone.
