Canada’s women’s football team have been deducted six points from their group in the Olympics and coach Bev Priestman has been banned for one year after a drone was used to spy on a rival team’s training sessions.
Fifa announced the sanctions – which include a £175,720 fine for the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) – a day after English-born Priestman was removed as Canada’s Olympic head coach.
CSA officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander have also been suspended by Fifa for a year.
Football’s governing body Fifa said the CSA was in “violation” of its principles.
“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 Olympic football tournament,” said a Fifa statement.
Priestman “voluntarily” withdrew from her coaching duties for Canada’s opening game against the Kiwis after the New Zealand Olympic Committee reported a drone had been flown over their training session on Monday.
Fifa and the CSA launched investigations and the latter said the 38-year-old was “highly likely” to have been aware of the incident.
More to follow.
