Berlin, 28 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Football governing body FIFA has banned Canada women's football coaches for one year and stripped the Olympic team six points at the Paris Games over a drone-spying scandal, it said on Saturday.

Head coach Bev Pristman is among the suspended, after she had already been banned by the country's football federation.

"The officials were each found responsible for offensive behaviour and violation of the principles of fair play," FIFA said in its statement.

Canada, the women's Olympic champions from Tokyo, allegedly used drones to spy on a New Zealand practice in France.

New Zealand lodged a complaint with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) integrity unit after a drone belonging to a staff member of the Canadian team was spotted flying over a training session for the Paris Olympics on July 22.

Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) chief David Shoemaker previously said that his organization believed that Priestman was “highly likely” to have been aware the incident.

Canada defeated New Zealand 2-1 in their tournament opener on Thursday. Priestman removed herself from coaching the match on Wednesday.

Photo: EPA