Paris Olympics 2024: Canada women suffer points deduction, coach Bev Priestman banned

Manager Bev Priestman has been banned for a year.

The deployment of a drone to collect information on a rival team’s practice sessions cost Canada’s women’s football team six points in their Olympic group. Even coach Bev Priestman received a one-year suspension for the incident.

A day after Priestman was fired as Canada’s Olympic head coach, FIFA issued the penalties, which include a £175,720 punishment for the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA).

FIFA have also punished CSA officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander for a year.

“The officials were each found responsible for offensive behaviour and violation of the principles of fair play in connection with the CSA’s Women’s representative team’s drones usage in the scope of the Olympic football tournament,” said a FIFA statement.

The deployment of the drone by the Canadian squad was deemed a “violation” of FIFA’s principles, the body that oversees football.

After learning that a drone had flown over their Monday training session, the New Zealand Olympic Committee said that Priestman “voluntarily” resigned from her coaching position for Canada’s opening match versus the Kiwis.

Following their investigations, FIFA and the CSA concluded that the 38-year-old was “highly likely” to have known about the incident.

“We are exploring options to appeal on the basis that it is excessively punitive towards our Women’s National Team players – who were not involved in any unethical behaviour,” Kevin Blue said.

“Canada Soccer took swift action to suspend the implicated staff members and is also proceeding with a broad independent review that may lead to further disciplinary action.”

David Shoemaker added: “We feel terrible for the athletes on the Canadian Women’s Olympic Soccer Team who as far as we understand played no role in this matter.”

The Canadian Olympic Committee’s David Shoemaker and the CSA’s Kevin Blue both stated in a statement in response to the punishment that an appeal was being considered. The CSA have the right to appeal the ruling before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

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