FIFA’s disciplinary and complaints committee sanctioned Canada, stripping the Olympic team of six points. The soccer body also suspended coach Bev Priestman for one year. Both sanctions relate to investigations into the use of drones for espionage in Canada.
Canada now has a three-point deficit in Group A of the Olympic Games. Only one round of matches has been played so far, with a 2-1 victory over New Zealand. Team Canada returns to action this Sunday to face host France.
In addition, the Canadian Federation was fined 200,000 Swiss francs (approximately $1.2 million US). The Canadians can still appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Analyst Joseph Lombardi, who was involved in the drone flight, and his assistant Jasmine Mander, who reported the incident, were also banned by FIFA for one year from participating in any football-related activity. Both were flown to Canada.
Coach Bev Priestman was absent for Canada’s debut last Thursday because of a spying crisis. Hours later, the country’s federation announced it would withdraw from the remainder of the competition. As a result of FIFA’s decision, he is barred from working in football for a year. Team Canada will be coached by Andy Spence until the end of the Olympics.
Remember the spy case?
Earlier this week, the New Zealand Olympic Committee informed French police that a drone had been spotted flying over the country’s women’s football team’s training grounds. A member of the Canadian technical committee was later identified as the person operating the aircraft. The New Zealand committee then filed a formal complaint with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and asked it to take action.
After that, the Canadian team fired two specialists from its coaching staff, who were arrested by the French police. The National Olympic Committee sent home analyst Joseph Lombardi, who piloted the drone, and his assistant Jasmine Mander, who reported on it. In addition, FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Canada and the professionals involved in the case.
The crisis escalated last Thursday after a TSN report revealed that spying had been observed on the country’s men’s and women’s teams at tournaments in recent years, including a record-breaking one at the Tokyo Olympics, where Canada won gold.
Furthermore, Canadian Football Federation CEO Kevin Blue has revealed that this action was not an isolated incident. An investigation into the possible systematic use of drone spying, including in the country’s men’s team, has been opened. During the last round of Concacaf football qualifying, the Honduras team was forced to halt its training in Toronto after a drone was spotted overhead.
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