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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Canada appeal six-point deduction</li><li>Punishment considered disproportionate</li><li>Defending champions could still progress</li></ul>

Canada launch appeal against Olympics points deduction in wake of drone spying scandal

The appeal from Canada Soccer and the Canadian Olympic Committee rests on claims that the punishment was "disproportional" to the offence of spying on New Zealand's training. It also calls on FIFA to see that the players have been "unfairly punished" for actions they had nothing to do with.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Canada were hit with an automatic six-point deduction when 'unaccredited analyst' Joseph Lombardi was found to have <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/canada-soccer-spygate-explained/blte27ee3e06a8add66" target="_blank">used a drone to film New Zealand training </a>ahead of their opening fixture. Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander were removed and sent home, while head coach Bev Priestman stepped down from taking charge of the team for that game. All three have since been <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/fifa-deducts-canada-olympic-team-six-points-and-bans-bev-priestman-for-a-year-over-drone-spying-scandal/blt140f5cd6f6ce180f#cs26ad18135505aa75" target="_blank">banned from all football activity by FIFA for one year</a>.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

A <a href="https://canada-soccer-pressroom.prezly.com/canada-soccer-coc-statement-on-appeal-of-fifa-sanctions?utm_id=9db23bb1-9782-41b1-94c1-6672609e18ce#image-362446b2-35d9-4c13-a4d3-42f3216c77b2" target="_blank">statement from the federation</a> said: "Earlier today, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer have appealed FIFA's automatic deduction of six points from the Canadian Soccer Association's Women’s representative team’s standing in Group A of the Olympic Football Tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics.&nbsp;"The appeal is based on the disproportionality of the sanction, which we believe unfairly punishes the athletes for actions they had no part in and goes far beyond restoring fairness to the match against New Zealand. The appeal has been submitted to the Court of Arbitration for Sport's Ad Hoc Tribunal in Paris for the Olympic Games, which allows matters to be heard on an expedited basis during the Games."In order to preserve the integrity of the appeal process we will wait until the process is complete to comment further."

WHAT CANADA SOCCER SAID

Remarkably, defending Olympic champions Canada could still qualify for the knockout rounds of the tournament even if the points deduction is upheld. They have won both games so far - against New Zealand and hosts France - which leaves them with no points. Victory over Colombia in the final game would see them finish with three points and be in contention for one of the best third-place berths in the quarter-finals. But it requires Brazil and Australia to lose in the other groups.

WHAT NEXT FOR CANADA?

Canada launch appeal against Olympics points deduction in wake of drone spying scandal | Goal.com Uganda

Canada have launched an appeal against the points deduction slapped on the team at the ongoing 2024 Olympics amid spying on an opponent with a drone.