FIFA has suspended Canada’s coach, Bev Priestman, and penalized the team with a six-point deduction from their Olympic group stage tally following an incident involving a drone.
The drone was allegedly flown over a training session against New Zealand just before the tournament began. Additionally, the team faces a significant fine.
This incident recalls a similar controversy in 2021, when the Canadian team reportedly used drone technology prior to that year’s tournament, which they ultimately won, earning a gold medal. The current points deduction, however, severely jeopardizes their chances of repeating that success.
The drone incident occurred three days before the start of the Olympic football tournament. New Zealand promptly filed a complaint regarding the drone’s presence.
In the aftermath, French police arrested Joseph Lombardi, identified as an “unaccredited analyst,” who had also filmed another New Zealand training session.
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Following the incident, both Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander were swiftly removed from the Olympic team, and Priestman faced suspension. FIFA has responded to the breach with stringent penalties.
FIFA’s statement read: “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).“
“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.”
“Accordingly, and after having evaluated all evidence on file, the Chairman of the FIFA Appeal Committee has issued the following sanctions for violation of art. 13 of the FDC (Offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play) and art. 6.1 of the OFT Regulations (Responsibilities):
“CSA: an automatic deduction of six points from the Canadian Soccer Association’s Women’s representative team’s standing in Group A of the OFT, and a fine of CHF 200,000, and Beverly Priestman, Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander: each official suspended from taking part in any football-related activity for a period of one year.
“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.”
“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 OFT.
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“CSA and its officials have been notified of the terms of the FIFA Appeal Committee’s decision today. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the FDC, they have ten days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com. The decision remains subject to a potential appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”
Despite the substantial points deduction, Canada still has a pathway to advance from the group stages. The tournament format allows for third-placed teams to progress, similar to the European Championship structure. For Canada to secure advancement, they would likely need to win at least one of their remaining matches.