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Canada appealing 6-point deduction from women’s Olympic soccer team amid drone scandal

Dryden, ON, Canada / CKDR
Caitlin Snow
Jul 29, 2024 | 11:31 AM
Canada appealing 6-point deduction from women's Olympic soccer team amid drone scandal

Canadian Women's Soccer National Team Coach Bev Priestman will voluntarily sit out the teams first Olympic match after members of her staff were accused of using drones to record their opponents practice. Photo: Evan Taylor



Another development in the drone-spying scandal involving Canada’s women’s Olympic soccer team.

Canada is appealing the six-point deduction given to the team by FIFA, looking to get it eliminated or reduced.

It comes after Head Coach Bev Priestman was suspended for one year after two assistant coaches were found using a drone to spy on the New Zealand soccer team’s practice last week.

In a statement Canada Soccer and Olympic Committee say they believe taking the points away is unfair.

“Earlier today, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer have appealed FIFA’s automatic deduction of six points from the Canadian Soccer Association’s Women’s representative team’s standing in Group A of the Olympic Football Tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The appeal is based on the disproportionality of the sanction, which we believe unfairly punishes the athletes for actions they had no part in and goes far beyond restoring fairness to the match against New Zealand. The appeal has been submitted to the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s Ad Hoc Tribunal in Paris for the Olympic Games, which allows matters to be heard on an expedited basis during the Games.

In order to preserve the integrity of the appeal process we will wait until the process is complete to comment further.”

Funding pulled

The three coaches involved are not only suspended from soccer-related activities for one year, Canada Sport Minister Carla Qualtrough announced they are also getting their funding pulled.

“Beverly Priestman, Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander: each official suspended from taking part in any football-related activity for a period of one year.”

In a statement, Qualtrough says using a drone to surveil another team is “cheating” and there is a deeply “concerning pattern of behavior at Canada Soccer.”

“It is completely unfair to Canadian players and to opposing teams. It undermines the integrity of the game itself.

Officials ‘disappointed’

The CEO and Secretary General of the Canadian Olympic Committee David Shoemaker in a statement over the weekend said they feel awful for the team.

“We feel terrible for the athletes on the Canadian Women’s Olympic Soccer Team who as far as we understand played no role in this matter. 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 & General Secretary Kevin Blue in a statement expresses disappointment.

“Canada Soccer is disappointed with the impact of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision on our athletes. We are exploring options to appeal on the basis that it is excessively punitive towards our Women’s National Team players – who were not involved in any unethical behaviour. 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. We appreciate the understanding and support for our players from our Canadian fans during this time.”

The members on the team are getting full support from the Athlete’s Commision who applaud them and their courage.

Canada pulled out a win against France in their Sunday afternoon match, 2-1.