Marseille, France — Canada FIFA announced Saturday that it has suspended women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman for one year and will penalize the Canadian team with six points for the duration of the Olympics after investigating allegations that Canadian staff used a drone to listen in on an opponent’s closed-door training session last week.
The penalties are significant. The six-point penalty will make it very difficult for Canada to advance to the knockout stages as they seek to defend the gold medal they won at the last Tokyo Olympics. Meanwhile, Priestman, who was assistant coach under Phil Neville with the England women’s national team before taking over as Canada manager in 2020, will be banned from “taking part in any football-related activities” for 12 months.
FIFA said in a statement that the sanctions, which also include a fine of about $226,000 to the Canadian Soccer Federation, were for “violating FIFA’s applicable regulations related to failing to ensure compliance with the prohibition on flying drones over any training ground.”
“Each of the referees was found responsible for offensive behaviour and breaching the principles of fair play,” the statement continued.
Two of Priestman’s assistants, Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander, who were allegedly involved in the incident, were also banned from football for one year.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and the Canada Soccer Federation subsequently announced they were considering a possible appeal of the points deduction.
“We are extremely sorry to the players of the Canadian Women’s Olympic Soccer Team, who, to our understanding, had no involvement in this matter. In support of the players, we are working with the Canadian Soccer Association to explore their appeal rights related to the six-point deduction from these Olympic Games,” said Canadian Olympic Committee CEO David Shoemaker. It said in a statement.
“Canada is disappointed with the impact the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision has had on our players,” Canada Soccer Association CEO Kevin Blue added. “We are exploring our options for appeal as we believe the sanctions imposed on our women’s national team players were too harsh, even though they did not engage in unethical conduct.”
“Canada Soccer took swift action to suspend the officials involved and is also conducting an extensive independent investigation that may lead to further disciplinary action.”
The case is likely to go to the Special Olympic Tribunal of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Paris, which has been set up for emergency hearings and rulings in Olympic cases, such as when coaches or the Canadian federation challenge sanctions.
Even if the CAS judges uphold the points deduction, it will not eliminate Canada from the tournament. Canada next plays France on Sunday in Saint-Etienne and will need a win to stay in the tournament. Canada won its opening match but will need to win both of its remaining two group stage matches to have any hope of advancing to the quarterfinals as one of the two third-placed teams.
It is almost unprecedented to concede so many points during an international tournament.
Priestman hasn’t coached at these Olympics since leaving the team after the first game. new zealand She was ordered home by the Olympic Committee last week before the Canadian federation announced her suspension for the remainder of the Games.
The Canadian Soccer Association also announced it would conduct an independent investigation into the incident and similar previous cases that may indicate a systematic pattern.
There is no evidence that the players were involved in espionage.
“At this point, and frankly it’s sad and painful right now, but it’s proving to be a necessary part of the rehabilitation process, we are trying to directly address what appear to be systemic ethical failings,” Blue previously told Olympia.
Andy Spence, who previously coached Everton’s women’s team and joined Priestman’s staff in 2022, is coaching Canada in Priestman’s absence.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
