Canada’s women’s football team faces significant disciplinary measures, including a six-point deduction at the Paris 2024 Olympics and year-long bans for three members of its coaching staff. This comes in the wake of a drone spying scandal that saw the team allegedly using drones to monitor New Zealand’s training sessions ahead of their opening match last Wednesday.
According to a statement released by FIFA on Saturday, the actions were taken following the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and its officials—head coach Beverly Priestman, assistant coach Joseph Lombardi, and technical staff member Jasmine Mander. “Following disciplinary proceedings opened against the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), and its officials Beverly Priestman, Joseph Lombardi, and Jasmine Mander, the Chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided to refer the case directly to the FIFA Appeal Committee in accordance with article 56.3 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC),” FIFA stated.
“This decision was taken due to the possibility that the outcome of the proceedings affects the development of the ongoing Women’s Olympic Football Tournament – Games of the XXXIII Olympiad Paris 2024 Final Competition (OFT) and with the aim to safeguard the respondents’ rights,” the statement added.
FIFA found the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) guilty of violating article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and article 6.1 of the XXXIII Olympiad Paris 2024 Final Competition (OFT) regulations. As a result, they imposed a six-point deduction on the CSA’s Women’s representative team standing in Group A of the OFT. Additionally, a fine of CHF 200,000 was levied on the CSA, and officials Beverly Priestman, Joseph Lombardi, and Jasmine Mander were each suspended from all football-related activities for a period of one year.
Despite the controversy, Canada managed to secure a 2-1 victory over New Zealand in their opening game. However, the punitive point deduction places Canada at -3 points in Group A, dropping them to the last place in the standings. With their second group game against France scheduled for Monday, Canada faces a challenging path to qualify for the next stage, though they still hold an outside chance.
The scandal stems from Canada’s failure to comply with FIFA regulations prohibiting the use of drones over training sites.
. “CSA was found responsible for failing to respect the applicable FIFA regulations in connection with its failure to ensure the compliance of its participating officials of the OFT with the prohibition on flying drones over any training sites,” FIFA’s statement concluded.
The CSA has yet to issue a formal response to the sanctions, but the repercussions are already shaking the team’s preparations and morale. The coaching staff suspensions mean that Canada will compete at a vital juncture of the tournament without three key figures, putting additional strain on the remaining personnel.
Fans and analysts have voiced a mix of shock, disappointment, and puzzlement over the scandal. Many are questioning how such a sophisticated method of espionage could be contemplated, let alone executed, in an era of high surveillance and stringent regulations. Some commentaries suggest that the penalties could have been even harsher had Canada not been quick to comply with the ongoing investigation. Yet, the shadow of this incident threatens to tarnish the entire journey of the Canadian women’s football team at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In the broader context of sports integrity, this incident underscores the increasing scrutiny and technological vigilance in modern athletic competitions. Drones, which have become ubiquitous for recording training sessions and matches, are now at the center of a major ethical and regulatory breach. Authorities are likely to tighten controls and monitor their usage even further, especially in high-stakes tournaments like the Olympics.
Meanwhile, the broader football community is closely watching how this scandal impacts Canada’s future engagements. While the immediate focus is on surviving the group stages of the Paris Olympics, the long-term ramifications for the team’s reputation and administrative practices could be significant.
The disciplinary actions signal FIFA’s stringent stance on upholding the integrity of the sport, sending a clear message to all participating teams about the severe consequences of regulatory breaches. As the Canadian women’s team steps onto the field against France, the weight of the scandal and the ensuing penalties will undoubtedly loom large over their campaign.
