FIFA is coming down hard on Canada after assistant coaches for its Women’s Soccer team were found using drones to spy on New Zealand practices ahead of their opening match on Thursday.
After New Zealand complained, the organizer of Olympic soccer tournaments and World Cup games said on Saturday that it will dock six points from Canada Women’s Soccer and fine the Canadian Soccer Association $226,000. FIFA also said it will block assistant coaches Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander, as well as head coach Beverly Priestman, from participating in soccer-related activity for a full year. Reports did not say what type of drone was used by the assistant coaches.
In turn, the head of Canada’s Olympic Committee, David Shoemaker, said Canada is “exploring options to appeal” the decision. Shoemaker singled out the six-point fine, calling it “excessively punitive towards our Women’s National Team players – who were not involved in any unethical behaviour.”
Priestman has denied being aware of the spy drones, per AP News, but said that, “irrespective of the details, I’m ultimately accountable.” Priestman oversaw Canada Women’s Soccer as it secured its first gold medal in the Tokyo Games in 2021.
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