In a stunning turn of events, the Canadian women’s soccer team has been hit with a six-point deduction in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 tournament, and head coach Beverly Priestman has been suspended for a year due to a drone spying scandal. FIFA announced the penalty on Saturday, stating that the Canadian Soccer Association would also face a fine of 200,000 Swiss francs ($226,346).
Priestman, who has led the team since 2020 and guided them to Olympic gold in Tokyo, along with Canadian officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander, were banned from all soccer-related activities for one year for “offensive behavior and violation of fair play principles.” The controversy erupted after New Zealand complained that Canadian staff flew drones over their training sessions before their opening Olympic fixture, which Canada won 2-1.
Following the allegations, Priestman was suspended by the national soccer federation and subsequently removed from the Olympic tournament. Despite denying any involvement, she decided to step aside for the match against New Zealand. Canada, under interim coach Andy Spence, secured a victory in that match. The Canadian Soccer Association is currently exploring options to appeal the six-point deduction.
