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Canada's midfielder Jessie Fleming (hidden) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during the France 2019 Women's World Cup Group E football match between Canada and New Zealand. Photo: AFP
Canada’s Olympic women’s football team have been deducted six points and their coach Beverly Priestman suspended for a year after using a drone to spy on a rival team at the Paris Games, FIFA said on Saturday.
Canada’s football association “was found responsible for failing to respect the applicable FIFA regulations in connection with… the prohibition on flying drones over any training sites,” FIFA said.
It also handed down a fine of 200,000 Swiss francs ($226,000).
The ruling is a hammer blow to Canada’s hopes of defending the Olympic title they won at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
It leaves them on minus three points in Group A before they play hosts France on Sunday in Saint-Etienne.
They beat New Zealand 2-1 in their opening game on Thursday but the deduction means they now face having to win their next two matches to stand any chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Analyst Joey Lombardi was sent home after being given a suspended eight-month prison sentence for flying the drone over a New Zealand training session ahead of the game.
Assistant Jasime Mander was also sent home, while Priestman withdrew herself from the game against New Zealand.
Canada Soccer said Friday that English coach Priestman had been suspended with immediate effect.
AFP
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