July 27, 2024: In a shocking turn of events, FIFA penalized the Canadian women’s football team over a drone spying scandal. The team, which won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has been docked six points in the Paris 2024 women’s football tournament. Additionally, head coach Bev Priestman has been banned from all football activities for one year.
FIFA announced the penalties, which include a 200,000 Swiss franc ($226,000) fine for the Canadian football federation. The sanctions were imposed after two assistant coaches were caught using drones to spy on New Zealand’s practice sessions before their opening game.
Head coach Bev Priestman, who led Canada to Olympic gold in 2021, was already suspended by the national federation and has now been banned by FIFA for one year. FIFA’s disciplinary process was expedited, with appeals judges finding Priestman and her assistants guilty of “offensive behaviour and violation of the principles of fair play.”
The Canadian football federation was also held accountable for not ensuring its staff followed tournament rules. Priestman had stepped aside from Canada’s opening match against New Zealand after the scandal came to light, and her two assistants were sent home. Despite the scandal, Canada won the match 2-1 under interim coach Andy Spence.
The penalties could severely impact Canada’s chances in the tournament. The team now needs to win all three of their Group A matches to advance. They are set to play group leaders France on Sunday in Saint-Etienne and Colombia on Thursday in Nice.
The sanctions can be appealed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) special Olympic court in Paris, which handles urgent cases during the Olympics.
Coach Bev Priestman, who hails from England and was hired in 2020, is under contract through the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Canadian officials suspect that the spying incident might be part of a larger, systemic issue over the years.
Despite the severe penalties, the Canadian team remains in the tournament and is determined to overcome these challenges.
