Jakarta (ANTARA) – Canada’s women’s national team has been deducted six points by FIFA from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games due to a scandal involving the misuse of drones to spy on the New Zealand team’s training sessions by two of its coaching staff.
“(Canada) has violated FIFA rules that also apply to participants in the Olympic Football Tournament (OFT) regarding the prohibition of flying drones over any training venue,” FIFA wrote in an official statement on Sunday.
The Chairman of the FIFA Appeals Committee has imposed sanctions for violations of Article 13 of the FDC (Offensive Behaviour and Violation of the Principles of Fair Play) and Article 6.1 of the Olympic Regulations against Canada.
“Team Canada has been penalised with a six-point deduction from Group A of the Olympic Games and a fine of 200,000 Swiss francs (3.68 billion rupees),” FIFA continued.
In addition to the reduced fine, Beverly Priestman was removed from her position as head coach of the women’s soccer team due to the incident.
Assistant coach Jasmine Mander and tactical analyst Joey Lombardi were dismissed from the Paris 2024 Olympics over the matter.
Joey Lombardi was even sentenced to an eight-month suspended prison sentence for piloting a drone during a New Zealand national team training session at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne this week.
The Canadian women’s team, the reigning Olympic women’s soccer champions, beat New Zealand 2-1 in the opening match of the Paris Olympics last Thursday night.
However, Priestman did not participate in the games because they had been suspended by the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Priestman’s position is filled by assistant coach Andy Spence, who will lead Canada through the end of the Paris Olympics.
“Social media fanatic. Problem solver. Bacon ninja. Communicator. Alcohol evangelist.”
