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Government withholding funding ‘related to suspended Canada Soccer officials’

Funds will be withheld for duration of FIFA suspension
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Minister of Sport and Physical Activity Carla Qualtrough speaks at a news conference on the Future of Sport in Canada Commission, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Qualtrough says the government is withholding funding relating to suspended Canada Soccer officials.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Canada sports minister Carla Qualtrough says the government is withholding some of Canada Soccer’s funding following a spying scandal involving the Olympic women’s soccer team.

FIFA docked six points from the team due to a drone spying scandal at the Paris Games.

It also banned head coach Bev Priestman and two assistants for a year each and fined Canada Soccer around $313,000.

Qualtrough says the funding, which is “related to the suspended officials,” is being withheld for the duration of their FIFA sanction.

She says there is a deeply concerning pattern of behaviour at Canada Soccer.

Two assistant coaches were caught using drones to spy on New Zealand’s practices before the teams played their opening game last Thursday.

READ ALSO: Coach to sit out Olympic opener after drone scandal rocks Canada Soccer

The Canadian Press