Olympics: Canada docked 6 points, coaches banned over spy scandal - ESPN

MARSEILLE, France — Canada women's soccer coach Bev Priestman has been suspended from coaching for one year and the Canadian team has been penalized six points during the Olympics, FIFA announced Saturday after investigating charges that Canada staff members used a drone to spy on an opponent's closed practice session last week.

The penalties are significant. For the Canadian team, which is hoping to defend the gold medal it won at the last Olympics in Tokyo, a six-point penalty will make it very difficult to advance to the knockout rounds, while Priestman — who coached as an assistant under Phil Neville with England's women's national team before taking over Canada in 2020 — is prohibited from «taking part in any football-related activity» for 12 months.

The sanctions, which also included a fine to the Canadian federation of about $226,000, were for violating «the applicable FIFA regulations in connection with its failure to ensure the compliance… with the prohibition on flying drones over any training sites,» FIFA said in its announcement.

«The officials were each found responsible for offensive behavior and violation of the principles of fair play,» the statement continued.

Priestman's two assistants implicated in the case, Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander, were also banned from all soccer for one year.

The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canada Soccer later announced they were exploring their options to appeal the points deduction.

«We feel terrible for the athletes on the Canadian Women's Olympic Soccer Team who as far as we understand played no role in this matter. In support of the athletes, together with Canada Soccer, we are exploring rights of appeal related to the six point deduction at this Olympic