Jul 23, 2024, Saint-Denis, France; Canadian flags adorn the balconies of the Canada staff residence constructing on the 2024 Paris Olympics athlete village. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities PARIS — Sport Canada is withholding funding referring to ladies’s soccer coach Bev Priestman and two different suspended staff officers, calling the drone scandal that has rocked the Paris Olympic soccer event a humiliation to all Canadians.
Canada’s staff was docked six factors in a large blow to its hopes of retaining their Olympic title, whereas Priestman and officers Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander had been banned from any soccer-related exercise for one 12 months by FIFA.
“Utilizing a drone to surveil one other staff throughout a closed apply is dishonest,” Canada’s sport minister Carla Qualtrough stated in a press release. “It’s utterly unfair to Canadian gamers and to opposing groups. It undermines the integrity of the sport itself.
“Provided that the Girls’s Program receives funding from Sport Canada, we’re withholding funding referring to suspended Canada Soccer officers during their FIFA sanction.
“There’s a deeply regarding sample of conduct at Canada Soccer. We should, and can, unravel this. This challenge has prompted important distraction and embarrassment for Crew Canada and all Canadians right here in Paris and at dwelling.”
Canada Soccer has stated it was exploring the way it may enchantment the six-point penalty leveled by world soccer’s governing physique FIFA, which left Canada at minus three factors in Group A, with two matches left to play.
The Canadians are scheduled to face France in a while Sunday.
Former Canada gamers have thrown their assist behind the staff.
“Livid. Fuming. Unhappy. Heartbroken. These gamers do not deserve this,” former goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, who helped Canada win gold on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, posted on social media.
“They have been let down by so a lot of their very own individuals, not simply NT (nationwide staff) workers.
“Standing with these gamers and each participant that has ever been a part of this program, and labored so laborious to construct it, not tear it down.”
Diana Matheson, who retired in 2020 after 206 appearances for the Canada over a 17-year profession, gave her full assist to the gamers.
“Like many Canadians, I have been working by many feelings on this story that has change into such a distraction for not simply the WNT, however drawn consideration away from the complete Canadian Olympic staff,” she wrote.
“I stand with the gamers. I am with you. Canadians are with you. Final recreation, subsequent recreation, all of the video games, we’re proper there with you.
“Take six factors from us? High quality, let’s go get 9.”
–Reuters/Particular to Subject Degree Media