FIFA has taken swift action against Canada women’s soccer team for flying a drone over New Zealand’s training sessions before the start of the Games. The punishment includes suspending coach Bev Priestman for one year, deducting six points from the team’s Olympic group stage total, and issuing a fine.
This decision has put a severe dent in Canada’s chances for a second consecutive gold medal, following their victory in Tokyo in 2021. The Canadian Soccer and the Canadian Olympic Committee are considering appeals to FIFA’s ruling, deeming it excessively harsh towards the players who were not involved in the drone incident.
Joseph Lombardi, the team analyst responsible for the drone use, has been suspended for one year, along with assistant coach Jasmine Mander. FIFA found violations related to fair play and acted quickly due to the impact on the ongoing Olympic tournament.
New Zealand, the affected team, praised FIFA’s actions but still believes Canada gained an unfair advantage by spying on their tactical sessions. Canada Soccer may request a more detailed explanation of FIFA’s ruling and could appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Despite the setback, Canada still has a chance to advance from Group A if they win all three matches, depending on other results. However, the limited size of the Olympic tournament means only eight teams can advance to the quarterfinals.
Canada Soccer has promised to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, expressing concerns about a possible systemic culture of surveillance within the program. CEO Kevin Blue emphasized that players were unaware of the drone use and should not suffer for the actions of staff members.
The decision to appeal FIFA’s ruling on the deducted points is understandable but may not yield the desired outcome. FIFA’s focus was primarily on the events at the Olympics, and the players, while not directly involved, may have benefited from the wrongdoing.
The situation escalated quickly after staff members from the New Zealand team reported the drone incident, leading to the detention of Joseph Lombardi. Canada Soccer took immediate steps to address the issue by sending the implicated staff members home and conducting an independent review.
Coach Bev Priestman expressed shock and devastation over FIFA’s decision, indicating the gravity of the situation for the team. The repercussions of the drone spying scandal have cast a shadow over Canada’s Olympic campaign and raised questions about fair play in international soccer competitions.
