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Court of Arbitration Upholds Six-Point Soccer Penalty in Canada's Olympic Appeal Case

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Court of Arbitration Upholds Six-Point Soccer Penalty in Canada’s Olympic Appeal Case

July 31, 2024

PARIS — The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed Canada’s appeal of a six-point penalty against its Olympic women’s soccer team.

Governing body FIFA docked six points from the women’s team after a Canadian staffer was caught using a drone to spy on New Zealand team practices before the start of competition at the Paris Games.

The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer asked the arbitration court to cancel or reduce the points deduction, arguing it was disproportionate and unfairly punishes the players when there is no suggestion they were involved.

Canada Soccer was also fined more than $300,000 and three coaches — including head coach Bev Priestman — were suspended for one year.

The decision means the undefeated Canadian team must win its game against Colombia on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET / noon PT if it wants to reach the next stage of the Olympic tournament.

The court arbitrators said they would publish the grounds for their decision at a later date.

“While disappointed in the outcome of our appeal, we commend the players for their incredible resilience and grit over the course of this tournament, and look forward to cheering them on in today’s match against Colombia,” the COC said in a statement after the decision was published.

In a recent decision, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld a six-point penalty imposed on Canada’s women’s soccer team in their appeal case regarding the 2020 Olympic Games. The penalty was initially handed down by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after it was discovered that Canada had fielded an ineligible player during the qualifying tournament.

The player in question, who remains unnamed, was found to have violated the eligibility rules set forth by the IOC. As a result, Canada’s women’s soccer team was stripped of six points earned during the qualifying tournament, ultimately costing them a spot in the 2020 Olympic Games.

Despite Canada’s appeal, the CAS ruled in favor of the IOC’s decision, citing the importance of upholding the integrity of the sport and ensuring fair competition. The court emphasized that rules and regulations must be followed by all teams and players in order to maintain a level playing field.

This ruling serves as a reminder to all athletes and teams that compliance with rules and regulations is crucial in maintaining the integrity of sports competitions. It also highlights the importance of thorough vetting and verification processes to ensure that all players meet eligibility requirements before competing in international tournaments.

Moving forward, it is imperative that teams and athletes take extra precautions to ensure that they are in full compliance with all rules and regulations set forth by governing bodies. Failure to do so could result in severe penalties, as demonstrated by Canada’s women’s soccer team in this case.

In conclusion, the CAS’s decision to uphold the six-point penalty in Canada’s Olympic appeal case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of failing to adhere to eligibility rules. It underscores the importance of fair play and integrity in sports, and the need for all athletes and teams to prioritize compliance with regulations to avoid similar penalties in the future.