Canadian women's soccer team penalized in Olympics for drone spying scandal

The Canadian women’s soccer team was dealt a heavy blow Saturday after FIFA announced the women's national team would be deducted six points from the standings in the Paris Olympics after staffers were caught using drones to spy on New Zealand during closed-door training sessions.

Following its investigation, the FIFA Appeal Committee announced the Canadian Soccer Association was responsible for failing to ensure its staff members were in compliance with Olympic rules. 

Canadian head coach Bev Priestman talking to the team after a She Believes Cup game against Brazil at Mercedes-Benz Stadium April 6, 2024, in Atlanta. (Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

"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 Games of the XXXIII Olympiad Paris 2024 Final Competition (OFT) with the prohibition on flying drones over any training sites," the statement said. 

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"The officials were each found responsible for offensive behavior 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 OFT." 

​​Head coach Bev Priestman was removed from her position Thursday night after two staff members were sent home from Paris when an investigation found that analyst Joseph Lombardi had allegedly used a drone to spy on New Zealand's practice sessions. 

Canadian head coach Beverly Priestman gestures during the quarterfinals of the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup against Costa Rica at BMO Stadium March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Omar Vega/Getty Images)

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The revelation that there may have been previous unethical recordings of opponents comes amid Canada’s pursuit of a title defense in the Olympics. The women’s team won gold in Tokyo and won its first match against New Zealand Thursday before Priestman’s dismissal. 

FIFA said Saturday that Priestman, Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander were banned "from taking part in any football-related activity for a period of one year." Canada Soccer was also fined $226,000. 

Players from Canada pose for a team photo before the start of a women's Group A soccer match against New Zealand during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne July 25, 2024.  (Arnaud Finistre/AFP via Getty Images)

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Canada Soccer can appeal the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The points deduction, if upheld by the CAS judges, does not eliminate Canada from the tournament, but it could mean the team must win all three games in Group A to advance with three points, likely as a runner-up in the standings.

Canada's next match is Sunday against France. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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