The Canadian women’s soccer team, which had a red light for advancing to the quarterfinals due to the “drone spying” incident, eventually advanced to the quarterfinals.
Canada beat Colombia 1-0 in the third Group A match of the women’s football group stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics at Sdad Denis in Nice, France, on the 1st (Korea time).
Canada had won both the first and second matches, but had a point of “zero” due to penalty of points reduction. The team won the match against Colombia on the day, acquiring three points and tying Colombia (1 win, 2 losses, 3 points). Canada is leading the group in goal difference (Canada +3, Colombia 0), and has secured a berth to advance to the quarterfinals. Canada is competing with Germany in the quarterfinals. The top team in the same group is host country France.
Canada first tasted the joy of reaching the quarterfinals, but the controversial “drone scandal” remains intact after being caught peeking at the opponent’s training. As both the Canadian women’s and men’s soccer teams are known to have relied on drones, there are predictions that the investigation could expand. Foreign media reported that the drone scandal was only a part of it.
The BBC reported, “A Canadian official said that both the men’s and women’s teams relied on drones for a long time,” adding, “Kevin Blue, CEO of the Canadian Football Association, mentioned that he received feedback that the men’s national team used drones during the “2024 South American Football Championship.”
“Canadian officials acknowledged that spying was done not only among women’s and men’s national teams,” the Associated Press said. “Canada’s reputation for integrity of football has been hit hard, and further damage may occur to the Canadian national team due to follow-up investigation.” FIFA has decided to reinvestigate the Canadian women’s soccer team’s gold medal process at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.안전놀이터
The Canadian team was found to have flown a drone to the training site of the New Zealand team, the opponent team in the first round of the women’s soccer group league, on June 22. FIFA cut six points for the Canadian team and imposed a fine of 200,000 Swiss francs on the Canadian Association as a punishment. The Canadian team also suspended qualifications for one year for its coaches and other related staff members.