Canada’s women’s soccer team is suspended for six points after spying on New Zealand with drones

BERLIN, 27 Jul. (dpa/EP) –

The International Federation of Football (FIFA) has banned Jasmine Mander, assistant coach of the Canadian women’s team, for one year and deducted six points from her team at the Paris Olympic Games (France), due to accusations of having spied on the New Zealand team with drones.

Analyst Joseph Lombardi was also banned by FIFA. Head coach Beverly Priestman is also among those suspended, having already been sanctioned by Canada Soccer itself.

“The technicians have been found responsible for offensive conduct and breaching the principles of fair play,” FIFA said in a press release, confirming a fine of 200,000 Swiss francs.

New Zealand filed a complaint with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) integrity unit on July 24 after a drone belonging to the Canadian staff was seen flying over a training session of its players a couple of days earlier.

Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) chief David Shoemaker had already said before FIFA’s sanction was announced that his organization believed it was “highly likely” that Priestman was aware of the drone incident.