Canada have received a six-point deduction and their coach has been banned by FIFA for 12 months over the drone spying scandal at the Paris Olympics.
Bev Priestman, assistant coach of the England women’s football team under head coach Phil Neville from 2018 to 2020, took the Canada job four years ago, although she was removed as the nation’s Olympic head coach on Friday.
She’s now been banned for a full year by FIFA amid the shocking drone spying scandal which has overshadowed the 2024 Olympic women’s football event.
FIFA said in a statement on Saturday that Priestman violated ‘the principles of fair play’ after drones were used to spy on their rivals in training.
Football’s world governing body have also handed a £175,720 fine to the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) over the scandal.
Canada’s women, who are defending the gold medal they clinched at Tokyo 2020, can still qualify for the knockouts if they win all three of their Group A games and other results go their way.
They beat New Zealand 2-1 on Thursday and face host nation France at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne on Sunday.
Canada’s final match in Group A sees them lock horns with Colombia at the Stade de Nice on Wednesday.
Assistant coach Andy Spence will take charge of Canada for the remainder of the Games, with the country sitting on -3 points after winning their opening match.
Priestman said on Wednesday as cited by Sports Central: ‘I’m ultimately accountable for this team. ‘By no means did I direct the individuals… I’m still learning the details and obviously this is all unfolding. ‘But again, I think the important thing right now is to look forward, put the actions in place and take the sanctions.’
The CSA can appeal against the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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