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FIFA has increased penalties for the Canadian women’s soccer team for using a drone to film an opposing team’s training session.
The organization stripped the team of six points, the equivalent of two wins, from the women’s soccer competition at the Paris Olympics, and coach Bev Priestman was also banned from world competition for one year, according to the Associated Press.
FIFA also fined the Canadian Football Association 200,000 Swiss francs and suspended its coaches, saying: “In relation to the use of drones by the CSA Women’s National Team, each official was found responsible for offensive behaviour and breaches of the principles of fair play.”
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Priestman had already been suspended by the Canadian Soccer Association and sent home from Paris, and staff member Joseph Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander have also been barred from competing in women’s Olympic soccer.
“I am absolutely devastated for the players and would like to apologise for the impact this situation has had on them all,” Priestman said in a statement after FIFA’s decision was announced.
“As the leader of the team on the ground, I want to take responsibility,” she added, “and we will cooperate fully with the investigation.”
The Canadian Soccer Association decided not to withdraw from the Olympics because its players were not involved in the use of drones, and wanted to act quickly to avoid penalties from FIFA.
Lombardi was caught flying a drone over a New Zealand training session earlier this week ahead of Thursday’s Olympic opener. His hotel room was subsequently searched and the drone footage was found, after which he admitted to watching two training sessions to study the New Zealand team’s tactics.
Canada, under interim coach Andy Spence, won Thursday’s game 2-1.
FIFA fast-tracked its investigation and disciplinary process with the Olympic Games in full swing, and its appeal judges ruled that Priestman and his two assistants “can each be found responsible for offensive behaviour and breaches of the principles of fair play”.
The allegations against the Canadian women’s national team come following allegations that the men’s national team attempted to use drones during the Copa America tournament.
According to TSN, both the men’s and women’s national teams “have relied on drones and espionage for years,” a trend that continued under Priestman’s guidance as the women’s team fought for a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Canada’s next match will be against host France on Sunday at 3pm ET.
Check out the scandal timeline here.
