Canadagate: FIFA deducts six points, suspends three coaches

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Canada has been severely punished by FIFA, which also organises Olympic football, for spying on New Zealand’s training sessions.

Canada won 2-1 against New Zealand in Saint-Étienne on Thursday, but has now been deducted six points.

Three Canada coaches have been suspended for one year by FIFA.

They are national coach Bev Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombari.

Priestman was already absent on Thursday when her team opened the Olympic tournament with a 2-1 victory.

Canada will play host country France (Sunday night in Saint-Étienne) and Colombia (Wednesday night in Nice) in Pool A.

Despite the points penalty, Canada still has a chance to advance despite the six points deduction.

Eight of the twelve participating countries in the women’s tournament will advance to the quarterfinals.

Canada will also be fined 200,000 Swiss francs, a whopping 208,000 euros.

Head coach Bev Priestman, who led Canada to the Olympic title in Tokyo in 2021 after surprise victories over the United States and Sweden, was already suspended by the Canadian Soccer Federation and immediately sent home when the repeated espionage came to light.