Canada reach Olympic women’s soccer quarterfinals despite spying scandal points deduction

Canada have qualified for the quarterfinals of the Olympic women’s soccer competition — despite the defending champions being deducted six points for spying on opponents earlier in the group stage.

Lyon defender Vanessa Gilles got on the end of Jessie Fleming’s cross to give Canada the lead in the 61st minute against Colombia in Nice, and that goal was enough to seal second place in Group A and a place in the last eight.

Andy Spence’s side held on for the victory and will now face Germany in the quarterfinal in Marseille at 1pm ET on Saturday.

Canada were deducted six points by FIFA for flying a drone over opponents New Zealand’s training sessions ahead of the Games, and a wider spying scandal subsequently emerged.

Canada appealed that penalty, but the decision was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Wednesday.

Head coach Bev Priestman was also suspended for one year by FIFA, as were team analyst Joseph Lombardi — the user of the drone in the incident that kicked off the large-scale investigation — and assistant coach Jasmine Mander.

Canada won its opening group game against New Zealand before being handed the points deduction, with head coach Priestman not on the touchline after voluntarily withdrawing from overseeing the fixture following the drone incident.

She was later removed from her post for the remainder of the Olympics by Canada after it emerged drone use against opponents pre-dated this summer’s Games, before FIFA imposed a greater sanction. Interim coach Spence has led the side in Priestman’s absence.

The points deduction was handed down ahead of the second group fixture against France, leaving Canada on minus three points in Group A and on the cusp of elimination.

However, they produced a dramatic comeback against the hosts, coming from a goal down and scoring a 102nd-minute winner through Gilles to keep the hopes of quarterfinal qualification alive.

Canada arrived at the 2024 Games as the defending champions after winning a surprise gold in Tokyo. Priestman’s side eliminated the USWNT in the semifinals in Japan before beating Sweden on penalties in the final.