Canadian Women’s Soccer Team Faces Deduction in Olympic Tournament Points
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld FIFA’s decision to deduct six points from the Canadian women’s soccer team in the ongoing Olympic tournament. The deduction came as a result of a drone spying scandal, raising questions about the team’s tactics in preparation for a repeat of their gold medal win. The dismissal of Canada’s appeal came just before the final games of group play, leaving four teams to be eliminated by the end of the day.
The implications of this decision were most significant for Canada and the teams in Group A. However, it also had an impact on the third-place teams in Group B and Group C, namely Australia and Brazil, respectively. Only two out of the three third-place finishers would advance to the quarterfinals, making every game crucial.
Despite winning two games in the tournament so far, Canada now finds themselves in third place in Group A with zero points and a plus-2 goal differential. However, there is still a chance for them to advance to the quarterfinals, depending on the results of Wednesday’s games across all groups. Canada is scheduled to face Colombia in their final group game.
CAS did not provide a detailed reasoning for their decision but promised to share more information at a later date. The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer had disputed FIFA’s ruling, arguing that the punishment was unfair to the athletes who had no involvement in the spying incident.
In addition to the points deduction, FIFA also suspended Canada’s coach, Bev Priestman, and two other team staffers for one year and imposed a fine. Canada did not contest the suspensions. The spying incident came to light when New Zealand team staff members noticed a drone flying above their practice and reported it to the police. The drone was traced back to Joseph Lombardi, an analyst with the Canadian women’s team.
It’s important to note that FIFA’s decision only pertains to Canada Soccer’s actions during the Olympics. The governing body found that Canada Soccer had failed to comply with FIFA regulations regarding the use of drones during training. Priestman, Lombardi, and assistant coach Jasmine Mander were all found responsible for offensive behavior and a violation of fair play principles.
Prior to her suspension from FIFA, Priestman was suspended for the duration of the Olympics and until the conclusion of a wider investigation conducted by Canada Soccer. This investigation will cover both the men’s and women’s programs, and Priestman has pledged to fully cooperate. She apologized to Canada’s players for the incident.
In conclusion, the Canadian women’s soccer team faces a setback in the Olympic tournament due to the drone spying scandal. The upheld deduction of six points puts Canada in a challenging position, but there is still a possibility for them to advance to the quarterfinals. The team’s coach and two staff members also face suspensions and a fine. The incident highlights the importance of fair play and adherence to FIFA regulations in international sports competitions.