MARSEILLE, France -- Canada women's soccer coach Bev Priestman has been suspended from coaching for one year and the Canadian team has been penalized six points during the Olympics, FIFA announced Saturday after investigating charges that Canada staff members used a drone to spy on an opponent's closed practice session last week.
The penalties are significant. For the Canadian team, which is hoping to defend the gold medal it won at the Tokyo Olympics, a six-point penalty will make it very difficult to advance to the knockout rounds, while Priestman -- who coached as an assistant under Phil Neville with England's women's national team before taking over Canada in 2020 -- is prohibited from "taking part in any football-related activity" for 12 months.
The sanctions, which also included a fine to the Canadian federation of about $226,000, were for violating "the applicable FIFA regulations in connection with its failure to ensure the compliance ... with the prohibition on flying drones over any training sites," FIFA said in its announcement.
"The officials were each found responsible for offensive behavior and violation of the principles of fair play," the statement continued.
Priestman's two assistants implicated in the case, Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander, were also banned from all soccer for one year.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canada Soccer later announced they were exploring their options to appeal the points deduction.
"We feel terrible for the athletes on the Canadian Women's Olympic Soccer Team who as far as we understand played no role in this matter. In support of the athletes, together with Canada Soccer, we are exploring rights of appeal related to the six point deduction at this Olympic tournament," David Shoemaker, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee, said in a statement.
"Canada Soccer is disappointed with the impact of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's decision on our athletes," Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue added in the statement. "We are exploring options to appeal on the basis that it is excessively punitive towards our Women's National Team players - who were not involved in any unethical behaviour.
"Canada Soccer took swift action to suspend the implicated staff members and is also proceeding with a broad independent review that may lead to further disciplinary action."
The case is likely now heading to the Court of Arbitration for Sport's special Olympic court in Paris. That tribunal is set up for urgent hearings and verdicts at the Olympics, such as the coaches and Canadian federation challenging their sanctions.
The points deduction, if upheld by the CAS judges, does not eliminate Canada from the tournament. Canada plays France on Sunday in Saint-Etienne and will need a win to stay alive in the tournament. Canada won its opening match but would need to win both of its remaining two group stage matches to have any hope of still advancing to the quarterfinals as one of two third-place teams.
Docking a team so many points is almost unprecedented in the middle of an international tournament. Former Canada stars spoke out about the punishment on social media.
"Furious. Fuming. Sad. Heartbroken. These players don't deserve this," former goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, who helped Canada win gold at Tokyo, posted on X.
"They've been let down by so many of their own people, not just NT [national team] staff.
"Standing with these players and every player that has ever been part of this program, and worked so hard to build it, not tear it down."
Diana Matheson, who retired in 2020 after 206 appearances for the Canadian team over a 17-year career, gave her full support to the players.
"Like many Canadians, I've been working through many emotions on this story that has become such a distraction for not just the WNT, but drawn attention away from the entire Canadian Olympic team," she wrote.
"I stand with the players. I'm with you. Canadians are with you. Last game, next game, all the games, we are right there with you. Take six points from us? Fine, let's go get nine."
Priestman has not coached at these Olympics after she stepped away from the team for its first match against New Zealand last week before Canada's federation announced she would be suspended for the remainder of the tournament. She was then subsequently sent home from the Olympics by the COC.
Canada Soccer has also announced an independent investigation into the incident, as well as several previous similar circumstances that might indicate a systemic pattern.
There is no suggestion that the players were involved in the spying.
"At the moment we are trying to directly address what appears to look like it could be a systemic ethical shortcoming, in a way that's frankly, unfortunately painful right now, but is turning out to be a necessary part of the rehabilitation process," Blue said previously at the Olympics.
Andy Spence, who previously coached Everton's women's team and joined Priestman's staff in 2022, has been coaching Canada in Priestman's absence.
Information from The Associated Press and Reuters was used in this report.