Canadian soccer team awaits appeal decision on eve of crucial game vs. Colombia

Slotted in a valley along the hilly neighbourhoods on the outskirts of this small French city sits a modest two-field soccer complex that became the controversy epicentre for a reeling Canada Soccer program.

A team analyst, part of the Olympic women's soccer team's coaching staff, was caught using a drone to spy on New Zealand's practices at the venue before the start of the Paris Games.

FIFA came down hard on the program over the weekend. Six points were docked from the team, Canada Soccer was fined and three coaches — including head coach Bev Priestman — were suspended for one year.

"Fair play is certainly what I learned at school about what the Olympic Games are supposed to be about," International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said before the FIFA ruling at the IOC's opening news conference. "That's what we appeal for. That's what the rules are there for."

WATCH | Canada deducted 6 points amid scandal:

The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer are appealing the point deduction from FIFA. A hearing was scheduled for later Tuesday at the Court of Arbitration for Sport's tribunal in Paris.

A decision was expected before Canada closes out Group A play Wednesday night against Colombia in Nice. Canada (2-0-0) will practise on Tuesday at Stade des Iscles. A victory over Colombia would give Canada three points and a berth in the knockout round.

Many questions remain in a scandal that has clouded the Canadian squad, even though there's no suggestion the players were involved.

It will take time before there are answers. Canada Soccer plans an independent external investigation.

It remains unclear why New Zealand — at No. 28 the lowest-ranked team in Group A — was a surveillance target priority in the first