Jul 27, 2024 - World

Canadian women's soccer docked, coaches suspended over drone spying scandal

Ina Fried

Bev Priestman stands at match against Mexico at BMO Field — Bev Priestman, head coach of Canadian women's soccer team, at an International Friendly match against Mexico on June 4, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Photo: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

Soccer's governing body announced Saturday it is docking six points from the Canadian women's soccer team at the Paris Olympics and suspending its head coach and two others for a year over a drone spying scandal.

Why it matters: The incident had already cast a shadow over Canada, the defending gold medalists from Tokyo, and the stiff penalty puts a major dent in the team's hope for a repeat gold in Paris.

FIFA said it was banning head coach Bev Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and staffer Joseph Lombardi for one year.

Zoom in: Soccer Canada was also fined 200,000 Swiss Francs.

But the stiffest penalty was the deduction of six points from the group play total of the Canadian team, a move that makes it unlikely for the team to advance to the medal round.
Canada won its first match against New Zealand but now faces the prospect of needing to win all three matches to finish with three points — and even that might not be enough to advance.

Catch-up quick: A Canadian soccer official was caught using a drone to spy on the New Zealand women's team practice.

Soccer Canada had already sent Priestman home from Paris.
The head of Canada soccer has acknowledged the drone use was not limited to the women's team or to Paris.

What they're saying: FIFA said in a statement that each of the suspended soccer officials were "responsible for offensive behavior and violation of the principles of fair play."

Yes, but: Canada could appeal FIFA's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

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Canadian women's soccer docked, coaches suspended over drone spying scandal

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