Now, the federal government is taking kicks at Canada Soccer for its drone spying scandal.
Carla Qualtrough, the minister of sport, announced Sunday the government will withhold funding related to suspended women’s national team head coach Bev Priestman and staff members Joey Lombardi and Jasmine Mander for the one-year duration of their FIFA ban.
“Using a drone to surveil another team during a closed practice is cheating,” Qualtrough said in a statement. “It is completely unfair to Canadian players and to opposing teams. It undermines the integrity of the game itself.”
On Saturday, FIFA stripped Canada of six points in the group stage standings, banned the three coaches from all soccer activities for the next year and fined Canada Soccer the equivalent of $313,000.
“Given that the women’s program receives funding from Sport Canada, we are withholding funding relating to suspended Canada Soccer officials for the duration of their FIFA sanction,” Qualtrough said in the statement. “There is a deeply concerning pattern of behaviour at Canada Soccer. We must, and will, get to the bottom of this.”
She expects the federal government to closely monitor Canada Soccer’s external investigation and outcomes of the process that is underway. The Future of Sport in Canada commission will also make recommendations to the government on improvements in the country’s sport system.
“This issue has caused significant distraction and embarrassment for Team Canada and all Canadians here in Paris and at home,” Qualtrough said. “It is deeply regrettable.”