A drone spying scandal continues to weigh on Canadian soccer, after the women’s team lost a last-ditch appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, hours before a must-win match at the Paris Games. The court’s decision marks the latest in a “profoundly disappointing” week for the sport in Canada and another setback for a team defending their Olympic title.
The scandal, which involved using a drone to spy on rival New Zealand, has rocked the sport in Canada, exacting steep costs on the team. Three staff members, including the head coach, Bev Priestman, have been barred from organized soccer for a year. Canada Soccer has been ordered to pay a fine of $313,000. Fifa, the sport’s global governing body, also levied a six-point deduction against the team.
