The Canadian Women's Soccer Team Thread

[Slava]

I think stripping them of gold is too much for a few reasons. First, is there evidence that they did this four years ago? Second, I question whether other countries do this and the efficacy of it anyway. I saw an interview with Drogba who basically said it’s not anything new and hardly a big deal. I’m in that camp overall.

[CaptainCrunch]

Sadly, I don't think the we think everyone does it so its ok. Canada got caught, and goes back longer then just this team.



I tend to think that if there's an olympic fairplay oath and you break it, your gone. I know its an old fashioned sentiment.



The problem is that money talks with the Olympics so they don't enforce fair play unless its a slam dunk that they have to.


And in this case, with Canada being a medal favourite, there will be a push to get them out.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Sadly, I don't think the we think everyone does it so its ok. Canada got caught, and goes back longer then just this team.



I tend to think that if there's an olympic fairplay oath and you break it, your gone. I know its an old fashioned sentiment.



The problem is that money talks with the Olympics so they don't enforce fair play unless its a slam dunk that they have to.


And in this case, with Canada being a medal favourite, there will be a push to get them out.

Yeah and I get that. I think kicking them out would be harsh, but I’m also biased.

I also think you’d need some evidence to strip the gold from the last Olympics. Christine Sinclair said she never saw any drone film or was in any meetings where this kind of thing was discussed.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Slava

Yeah and I get that. I think kicking them out would be harsh, but I’m also biased.

I also think you’d need some evidence to strip the gold from the last Olympics. Christine Sinclair said she never saw any drone film or was in any meetings where this kind of thing was discussed.

I dont get it. Watching another team practice? This isnt some sort of 'High Crime.'

When I was coaching I had opposing coaches watch our practices and come to some of our previous games.

It happens. Its not a big deal.

[browna]

Fifa:
6 point deduction
Preistmen and assistants banned for a year.
$225k fine for the CSA.

[Dan02]

6 point deduction functionally eliminated them doesn't it?

[browna]

Originally Posted by Dan02

6 point deduction functionally eliminated them doesn't it?

Well, point deductions mean that they have 0 now but so does New Zealand who they beat. If they win the next game that opponent will get 0 points too as will Canada.

Win the last game to win and end with 3 points and score enough goals in the next two games, a good chance tiebreakers will get involved and hopefully through via tiebreakers.

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by Dan02

6 point deduction functionally eliminated them doesn't it?

Pretty damaging. Seems like an overreaction and punishing the athletes for something they didn’t have a hand in. FIFA acting high and mighty given all the corruption they have going on is quite rich to me. The coaches though for sure should be done.

[MegaErtz]

Overreaction? The entire Canadian delegation should have been sent home! This is an extremely soft penalty. The Olympic gold medals from 2021 should be stripped from the women’s team as well.

These athletes make a pledge not to cheat at the penalty of a lifetime ban. It is extremely apparent from the reporting that the players knew full well that illegal - not just unethical - drone footage was being used for a competitive advantage. One or more of them should have spoken up.

Hard to look up to or cheer for a nation of cheaters.

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

Overreaction? The entire Canadian delegation should have been sent home! This is an extremely soft penalty. The Olympic gold medals from 2021 should be stripped from the women’s team as well.

These athletes make a pledge not to cheat at the penalty of a lifetime ban. It is extremely apparent from the reporting that the players knew full well that illegal - not just unethical - drone footage was being used for a competitive advantage. One or more of them should have spoken up.

Hard to look up to or cheer for a nation of cheaters.

Why would you take away something from 4 years ago as a result of something happened today? That is a bizarre take to me. Soft penalty - they have basically ended their olympics and there’s zero evidence the players knew or benefited from it - despite your implication otherwise. One game and banning the coaches was the right answer. Two is the over reach.

[FLAME ENVY]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

Overreaction? The entire Canadian delegation should have been sent home! This is an extremely soft penalty. The Olympic gold medals from 2021 should be stripped from the women’s team as well.

These athletes make a pledge not to cheat at the penalty of a lifetime ban. It is extremely apparent from the reporting that the players knew full well that illegal - not just unethical - drone footage was being used for a competitive advantage. One or more of them should have spoken up.

Hard to look up to or cheer for a nation of cheaters.

I think you need a serious chill pill, you seem extremely rattled by this. Although petty and stupid what the Women's soccer team did, using a drone to watch a competitors practice is hardly earth shattering by cheating standards.

Nation of cheaters? - there are many other countries competing at these games that better fit that bill. Perhaps start with China...

[browna]

No feeding the troll.

Beat France and Columbia. Hope Columbia and NZ tie and France beat or tie New Zealand. Canada would then get through as 2nd in the group.

For the players sake, let's hope that happens. They've been used to overcome the obstacles in their own association failing them for years, this is just a more overt occurance.

[Tuco]

Why are the players getting a pass? Surly they knew what was going on.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

This is gonna have big ramifications especially in Conmebol as FIFA cracks down. Eh, who am I kidding. No it won’t. Just a team dumb enough to do it in a very restricted airspace. The media reactions are quite interesting from around the world. New Zealand, upset, Canada, furious and trying to tear it all down. States, some bitter and upset? Rest of world? Not a lot of negative reaction. Seems there’s more people saying yeah that’s what happens. Quite a stark contrast to the Canadian media who seem desperate to have them kicked out of the tournament

[browna]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

This is gonna have big ramifications especially in Conmebol as FIFA cracks down. Eh, who am I kidding. No it won’t. Just an association dumb enough to do it in a very restricted airspace. The media reactions are quite interesting from around the world. New Zealand, upset, Canada, furious and trying to tear it all down. States, some bitter and upset? Rest of world? Not a lot of negative reaction. Seems there’s more people saying yeah that’s what happens. Quite a stark contrast to the Canadian media

Fyp

Yeah if it wasn't a criminal offense and on this stage, Fifa doesn't come down so hard.
Doesn't make it any better. And the lying about it at the program level still is an unravelling story and the biggest issue for me.

But, the CSA has always done it's best to ignore (at best) and in this case sabotage, the game in this country, so, just another chapter there.

[MegaErtz]

Originally Posted by Whynotnow

Why would you take away something from 4 years ago as a result of something happened today? That is a bizarre take to me. Soft penalty - they have basically ended their olympics and there’s zero evidence the players knew or benefited from it - despite your implication otherwise. One game and banning the coaches was the right answer. Two is the over reach.

Have you not read any of the reporting on this? The CSA admitted that this was systemic and that they cheated back in 2021 with drone footage. I honestly cannot think of a better reason to strip anyone of a gold medal.

[shermanator]

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

I think the punishment is fair. Incredibly unfair to the players, but there has to be a deterrent for this sort of thing. 6 points means that the women aren't guaranteed eliminated, they can still make it to the knockout round if they win all 3 matches. They won't, but it's possible.

Priestman and her staff will lose their jobs over this and her coaching career at this level is all but done.

All to get a win over New Zealand....

[Dentoman]

Yeah, the usage of a drone in obviously heightened security is just plain stupid. The coaches should be suspended for their stupidity alone!! Punishment is too harsh for the players.
If Canada is spying on other teams with drones , imagine what the other countries are doing. Canada is not a world leader in sporting espionage

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Yeah the lesson here is to cheat better. Like china. Bribe the IOC and WADA enough and they’ll turn a blind eye to doping. That’s how you win gold.

[Dentoman]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Yeah the lesson here is to cheat better. Like china. Bribe the IOC and WADA enough and they’ll turn a blind eye to doping. That’s how you win gold.

Doping and using a drone are not remotely equivalent on the cheating scale.
Maybe it’s because I once followed NASCAR closely where the adage “If you ain’t cheatin’ you ain’t trying” was followed by everyone that the use of a drone doesn’t really bother me. The stupidity of using it in Paris during the Olympics is what bothers me.