Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue has a message for FIFA.
Blue said Friday he does not believe the country’s women’s soccer team deserves to receive any penalty at the Paris Olympics amidst a spying scandal.
“The players themselves have not been involved in any unethical behaviour,” Blue said in a media conference call. “Frankly, we ask FIFA to take that into consideration if contemplating any further sanctions.”
Blue, hired by Canada Soccer from Golf Canada earlier this year, feels deduction of points at the Olympics would be “unfair to our players.” He said the players at the Olympics have not seen any of the drone footage and added he hopes FIFA weighs into consideration the actions taken by Canada Soccer since news about spying emerged.
Canadian women’s coach Bev Priestman was suspended after it was learned Canada was responsible for two drone incidents at New Zealand practices before Thursday’s Olympic opener against that country. Priestman voluntarily withdrew from that match, won 2-1 by Canada, before she was suspended hours later.
FIFA said Wednesday it has opened an investigation into the team.
Blue said he has not considered having the team drop out of the Olympics.
“I deeply considered and thought about the implications of this issue for the Canadian delegation,” he said. “I’ve deeply considered and feel, frankly, very disappointed and frustrated with the distraction this has created. But I have not considered withdrawal of the team, primarily because we feel like we have addressed the situation swiftly and significantly. It would be to the detriment of our players, who have worked so hard and sacrificed quite a bit to be Olympians and themselves have not engaged in unethical behaviour.
“I will not consider us withdrawing on the basis of the fact we support our players as Olympians and their right to be here and their right to compete.”
Canada’s next game is Sunday against France.
Blue also said he has learned of “attempted drone usage” by the Canadian men’s team during the recently concluded Copa America.
Blue said he spoke to new Canadian men’s coach Jesse Marsch about it and the latter man has “denounced it as a practice to his staff.”