Sport Canada is withholding funds intended for the salaries of women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman and two other suspended officials, calling the drone scandal that has rocked the Olympic soccer tournament in Paris an embarrassment for all Canadians.
The Canadian team was deducted six points, a massive setback to their hopes of defending their Olympic title. Priestman and officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander were banned by FIFA from all football-related activities for a year.
“Using a drone to monitor another team during a closed practice is fraud,” Canada’s Sports Minister Carla Qualtrough said in a statement.
“This is completely unfair to Canadian players and opposing teams. It undermines the integrity of the game itself.”
“Because the women’s program receives funding from Sport Canada, we are denying funding to the suspended Canada Soccer officials for the duration of their FIFA sanction.”
Sport Canada is currently in the process of determining the exact amount of funds withheld, the minister’s office told Reuters in a statement, adding that the withheld funds would not impact the overall funding available for the women’s program.
“There is a deeply concerning pattern of behaviour within Canada Soccer,” the statement said.
“We must and will get to the bottom of this. This issue has caused considerable distraction and embarrassment for Team Canada and all Canadians here in Paris and at home.”
Canada Soccer said it was considering how to appeal the six-point penalty imposed by FIFA, which leaves Canada three points down in Group A with two games remaining.
Former Canadian players support the team.
“Angry. Pissed off. Sad. Heartbroken. These players don’t deserve this,” former goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, who helped Canada win gold in Tokyo, posted on X.
“They have been let down by so many of their own people, not just the national team personnel.”
Diana Matheson, who retired in 2020 after 206 appearances for Canada, expressed her full support to the team.
“I’m with the players. I’m with you. The Canadians are with you. Last game, next game, all games – we’re with you,” she said.
– Reuters
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