The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) recently dismissed the Canadian Olympic Committee’s appeal against the penalty imposed on their women’s soccer team for a drone scandal that occurred during the 2024 Paris Games. FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, had imposed a six-point deduction and a fine of approximately $320,000 on Canada after their assistant coach, Joseph Lombardi, was caught using a drone to spy on New Zealand’s practices before their opening game. Lombardi, along with fellow assistant Jasmine Maner and head coach Bev Priestman, was also suspended for one year.
According to FIFA’s background report, Lombardi was caught by French police after flying the drone over the New Zealand team’s practice on July 22. He was arrested and charged with flying an unmanned aircraft in a restricted space, to which he pleaded guilty and received an eight-month suspended sentence. During a search of his hotel room, the police found additional footage of New Zealand’s practice, which Lombardi claimed he did not share with anyone due to its poor quality.
The FIFA report also includes an email sent by a Canada Soccer performance analyst to Priestman in March, discussing the issue of “spying.” The analyst expressed concerns about the moral implications and the impact on their reputation within the analysis field. They made it clear that they would not fulfill the role of spying in future camps. This email suggests that there were discussions and awareness of the spying operation within the coaching staff.
Another email sent by Priestman to an external human resources consultant who works with Canada Soccer alluded to her knowledge of “a whole operation on the men’s side.” These emails reveal a deeper involvement and awareness of the spying scandal beyond just Lombardi’s actions.
The penalty imposed on Canada by FIFA is unprecedented for an in-tournament violation of their rules. The chairperson listed in the FIFA report believes that this penalty will serve as a deterrent for future spying scandals. It is clear that FIFA wanted to send a strong message and set a precedent with this punishment.
Despite the disappointment of the appeal being dismissed, the Canadian Olympic Committee commended the players for their resilience and grit throughout the tournament. The team has won their first two matches against New Zealand and France and is set to close out group play against Colombia. A win in this match will advance them to the quarterfinals.
In conclusion, the drone scandal involving Canada’s women’s soccer team during the 2024 Paris Games has resulted in significant penalties imposed by FIFA. The evidence presented in the FIFA report, including damning emails and the involvement of multiple staff members, sheds light on the extent of the scandal. The penalty serves as a warning to prevent future spying incidents and emphasizes the importance of fair play and integrity in sports.
