Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue has a message for FIFA.
Blue said Friday he did not believe the country's women's soccer team deserved to face sanctions at the Paris Olympics amid a spying scandal.
“The players were not involved in any unethical behavior,” Blue said in a telephone news conference. “Frankly, we ask FIFA to take that into account if they consider implementing further sanctions.”
Blue, hired by the Canadian Soccer Federation earlier this year, believes the Olympic point deduction would be “unfair to our players.” He said players at the Olympics have not seen any of the drone footage and added that he hopes FIFA will review the actions taken by the Canadian Soccer Federation since news of the spying broke.
Canadian coach Bev Priestman has been suspended after it emerged Canada was responsible for two drone incidents during New Zealand's training session ahead of Thursday's Olympic opener against that country. Priestman voluntarily withdrew from that game before being suspended hours later.
FIFA announced on Wednesday that it had opened an investigation into the team.
Blue also said he was aware of an “attempted use of drones” by the Canadian men's team during the recently concluded America's Cup.
Blue said he spoke to new Canadian men's coach Jesse Marsch about it and “flagged it as a practice to his staff.”
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