In a major blow to Canada's hopes of retaining their Olympic title in women's football, Sport Canada has announced the withholding of funding related to the team's coach, Bev Priestman, and two other suspended officials. The move comes in response to the drone scandal that has caused widespread embarrassment for the nation.

The controversy erupted when it was revealed that Canada had used drones to spy on their opponents during closed practice sessions. FIFA, the international governing body for football, imposed a penalty on the team, docking them six points. This setback significantly impacts Canada's chances of success at the ongoing Paris Olympics.

Sport Canada's decision to withhold funding for Priestman and the suspended officials, Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander, is a clear statement denouncing the actions of the team. Canadian Sport Minister, Carla Qualtrough, expressed her disappointment, highlighting that using a drone to surveil another team's practice is cheating and undermines the integrity of the game itself.

Moreover, the sport minister emphasized that the scandal has caused significant distractions and embarrassment for Team Canada and the entire nation. Qualtrough stated that there is a pattern of concerning behavior at Canada Soccer and stressed the need to investigate and address the issue.

Bev Priestman, the women's football coach, also released a statement expressing her remorse and apologizing to the players and the country. She acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the team and took accountability for her role as their leader on the field. Priestman pledged to fully cooperate with the investigation into the scandal.

While Canada Soccer is exploring the possibility of appealing the six-point penalty handed down by FIFA, the team currently finds themselves at the bottom of their group with a negative three-point standing. With two matches left to play against France and Colombia, the road to redemption will be challenging for the defending Olympic champions.

Former Canadian players, including goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe and retired midfielder Diana Matheson, have shown their support for the players affected by the scandal. They voiced their anger and disappointment, emphasizing that the players should not bear the consequences of the actions of others within the program.

In a surprising twist, it was reported that US Soccer had been aware of Canadian teams attempting to spy on American practice sessions but did not report it to FIFA. The source cited the upcoming joint hosting of the 2026 World Cup by the US, Canada, and Mexico as a reason for not alerting the authorities.

The drone scandal is not the first controversy to hound Canada Soccer. Past allegations of abusive behavior by an elite Canadian coach in 2008, as uncovered by The Guardian in 2019, has cast a shadow over the organization. In February 2023, the women's team went on strike over pay issues and budget cuts, leading to threats of legal action by Canada Soccer. While a short-term deal ensuring minimum equal pay with the men's team was reached in July 2023, a long-term agreement is still pending.

As the fallout from the drone scandal continues, the Canadian women's football team faces an uphill battle to salvage their Olympic campaign. The withholding of funding serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unethical and unsportsmanlike behavior that undermines the principles of fair play and integrity in sport.