Olympic Games: Six Points Deducted from Canada’s Women’s Soccer Team and Coach Suspended for One Year for Espionage

The heavy hand of FIFA fell on the Canadian women’s team, which was at the center of an unbelievable espionage scandal just before the start of the Olympic Games.

Last Monday, the New Zealand Olympic Committee filed an official complaint with the IOC and FIFA, alleging that a drone was flying over their training center and recording their training session.

A few hours later, it was revealed that FIFA had opened an investigation, and the IOC revoked the accreditation of two members of the coaching staff (later revealed to be the assistant coach and an analyst), with the British coach of the team, Bev Priestman, expressing shock.

WATCH: Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive officer David Shoemaker says the head coach of the national women’s soccer team was likely aware drones were used to spy on an opposing country’s practices in France.

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The Canadian Olympic Committee announced Priestman’s removal from her position as head coach of the national team just hours before the opening ceremony, believing that she was aware of the espionage activities. Today, the heavy penalties from FIFA were also announced.

Specifically, FIFA imposed a fine of 200,000 euros and deducted six points from the Olympic tournament. Priestman was banned from all football activities for one year, and the same punishment was applied to her two associates.

The shock is even greater as Canada is the team that won the women’s Olympic tournament in Tokyo and had traveled to Paris to defend their title.

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