The Canadian women’s soccer team has not been shy about saying it felt it lost a chance at a gold medal.
Now FIFA could hurt the team’s chances of winning the bronze, according to the Toronto Sun.
The Canadian national team complained heavily after losing 4-3 to the U.S. on Monday in an Olympics semifinal filled with controversial calls. FIFA said Tuesday that it is investigating the remarks.
Although the game was in the Olympics, FIFA is the governing body of soccer and could impose suspensions and other penalties on the players or team. FIFA has already acted — also after a U.S. game — in these Olympics, suspending Colombia’s Lady Andrade after referees missed Andrade’s punch to Abby Wambach‘s face during a game.
Now, FIFA is looking into a litany of complaints against the referees from Monday’s game. Canadian captain Christine Sinclair, who scored three goals in the loss, has accused one referee of deciding the result of the game before it started. Other players’ protestations have centered around a controversial delay of game call when goalkeeper Erin McLeod held the ball past the allotted six seconds, a call that is rarely made in soccer, much less at such a high level. On Tuesday, reports surfaced that Wambach, a U.S. star, was counting off the seconds McLeod had the ball throughout the game before the referee made the call.
FIFA did not say whether it would punish Canada or what discipline may include, but suspensions are a real possibility from a governing body that looks to protect its sport by dismissing any criticism of referees or speculation of throwing games.
A source from the Canadian Soccer Association, however, said the group did not expect sanctions.
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