Canada's women's national football team spied on their first opponent New Zealand with a drone.
Now, the reigning Olympic champion – who defeated Sweden in the final in 2021 – is being punished with a six-point deduction in the ongoing Olympic tournament. Furthermore, the national team coach is being banned for a year.
In addition to the heavy point deduction, Fifa (International Football Association) is also banning three coaches from all football for a year. One of them is national team coach Bev Priestman, who has already left the Olympics. She had already been suspended by the Canadian Football Association.
Canada is also being fined approximately 2.4 million kronor.
It was Priestman who led Canada to Olympic gold in 2021 after defeating Sweden in the final on penalties.
Canada won the premiere against New Zealand 2–1, but now stands at three minus points. On Sunday, they face host nation France in the second group stage match.
It was during Monday's training that New Zealand's national team discovered a drone in the sky. The police were called, and later, the drone pilot was identified as a video analyst from Canada's national team.
Early on, the video analyst and an assistant coach were forced to leave the Olympic tournament, and a few days later, Priestman met the same fate.
Canada can appeal the penalties to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
