⚽ Dronegate derails Canada title defence

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKLY
IN THIS WEEK’S ROUND-UP

→ Long Read: Dronegate derails Canada title defence
→ Top Headlines: WSL name change, FA Player a thing of the past, French hijab ban mocks gender-equality
→ Picks from the pitch: Olympic football round-up
→ Transfer round-up: Mak Whitham makes history
+ Jobs + Kit Drop + What we’re watching + IRL Events

We’ve introduced a Jargon Buster to the newsletter. If you spot [JB] next to a word, head to the bottom of the email for a simple explanation.

🏟️ LONG READ: PARIS OLYMPICS

Dronegate Derails Canada Title Defence

Canada head coach, Bev Priestman

Dronegate, the unexpected story to overshadow the Olympic women’s football tournament, took another twist on Saturday when Canada was docked six points in the Olympics and had three coaches, including head coach Bev Priestman, banned for a year by Fifa. Canada also received a fine of CHF 200,000.

What happened?

  • Mon, 22 July: Canada was accused of spying on New Zealand’s closed training session days before their opening game. The method of choice? A drone. The drone operator, Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited member of the Canadian support staff, was arrested by police and promptly issued with an eight-month suspended jail sentence for flying an unmanned aircraft over a prohibited area.

  • Wed, 24 July: Priestman dodged the question when asked if she knew about the spying, and removed herself from managing Canada for the New Zealand match.

  • Two coaches, Jasmine Mander and Joseph Lombardi, were sent home by the Canada Olympic Committee after learning another spying incident happened on 19 July.

  • Thur, 25 July: Canada beat New Zealand 2-1.

  • Also Thur, 25 July: TSN broke the news that this was not an isolated incident and both Canadian men’s and women’s teams used drones to spy on opponents over multiple years and tournaments dating back to at least 2019. Sources admitted spying occurred during Tokyo 2021 when the Canadian women won gold.

  • TSN’s sources also indicated that spying was institutionalised at Canada Soccer. Contractors and staff were expected to spy as part of their duties and were told if they refused, there would be no place for them on Team Canada.

Repercussions:

  • Fri, 26 July: Following TSN’s revelations, Canada Soccer suspended Priestman indefinitely, and opened an independent investigation into the scandal.

  • Sat, 27 July: The Olympics and FIFA deducted the six points and suspended the coaches for violating the principles of fair play.

  • Canada states it will explore appealing the six-point deduction believing it excessively punishes the players who had no part in the spying.

What does Dronegate mean for the Canadian players and their legacy?

  • The situation seems to be without precedent, but if it’s found that Canada cheated their way to the Tokyo gold medal by gaining an unfair advantage after watching their opponents, literally from the bushes, then the historic achievements of now-retired players such as Christine Sinclair would be undermined.

  • Sinclair made a statement condemning the actions of the staff and made clear that she had never seen drone footage in any meetings she’s been present for during her international career, before adding her support for the current team.

  • In the meantime, Canada finds themselves on 0 points in their group after two wins.

🚨ICYMI

Top Headlines

✏️This could be the last season of the WSL and Championship as we know them. It’s been reported that NewCo[JB] is considering changing the names of the top two leagues. Any change wouldn’t happen until summer 2025 or beyond.

🎰 You’d be forgiven for thinking that gambling companies have a monopoly on football sponsorship. They’re everywhere. Well, now the WSL, Premier League, EFL and FA have agreed on a new code of conduct on gambling-related agreements that include four key pillars:

  • Protection of children and vulnerable people,

  • Social responsibility, including education and gambling awareness,

  • Integrity (of the game), and

  • Reinvestment of generated funds into infrastructure and programmes serving fans and communities

📺 FA Player haters, your dreams have come true… The 2024/25 Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship will stream globally on YouTube for the first time. All non-BBC and Sky matches will streamed, with the FA Cup remaining on the FA Player. 

👹 Manchester United’s new Sporting Director, Dan Ashworth has given his first statement since joining the club. Unlike United’s owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has made it clear the men’s team are his priority, Ashworth has confirmed that the success of the women’s team is a key part of his remit and plans, saying, “Women’s football is arguably the most exciting area of growth in the global game, and we want to be part of that.”

💸 Details of the 2024/25 UEFA Women’s Champions League prize money have been released and WSL clubs could earn big. The total prize pot is £24 million and is split across three areas: 

  • €11.4 million (48%) distributed to teams in the group phase: Group winners €20k, Quarter-finalists €160k, Semi-finalists €180k, Runner-up €200k, Winner €350k

  • €7 million (29%) for teams in rounds 1 and 2 of qualifying: Awards between €5k and €140k are made for various stages.

  • €5.6 million (23%) to non-participating clubs: Associations with at least one team participating in the Women’s Champions League will receive payments to be distributed equally among clubs in their top tier and used for development purposes.

🇪🇸 Spain are U19 Euro Champions. They beat England 3-1 in the semis to set up the final against the Netherlands. It took an extra-time goal to seal their 2-1 victory and claim the U19 crown.

WHAT WE’RE READING:
⚽ PICKS FROM THE PITCH

Olympic Football Round-up

Dronegate’s drama, step aside. Here’s our pick of the big moments on the pitch in the first two group games.

Matchday 1, 25 July:
Watch the full highlights (UK only)

  • Marta had a sixth goal in six consecutive Olympics ruled off-side.

  • Mallory Swanston scored twice in 66 seconds.

  • Mayra Ramirez (Colombia) and Pauline Zulu (Zambia) picked up straight red cards in their opening matches, ruling them out of their remaining group games.

Matchday 2, 28 July:
Watch the top goals (UK only)

  • Japan were 1-0 down until the 92nd minute, 1-1. In the 96th minute, Tanikawa lobbed the Brazilian keeper to win 2-1.

  • Alexia Putellas scored an amazing free kick in the 85th minute to beat Nigeria.

  • Barbra Banda got her third Olympic hat trick.

  • Australia staged a crazy comeback, beating Zambia 6-5, Heyman nabbing the winner in the 90th minute.

  • Gilles scored a dramatic winner in the 102nd minute to keep Canada in with a chance of going to the Quarter Finals. The reaction from Canadian players was… intense.

  • Swanson, Banda and Katoto are currently joint top goalscorers with three each.

✍️ INSIDE TRACK

Transfer Round-up

McKenna (Mak) Whitham broke two records this week. She became the youngest contracted player in NWSL history and then became the youngest ever pro player in a US top-flight league when she debuted in Sunday’s game against Washington Spirit.

Whitham who turned 14 on Saturday, signed a contract with Gotham FC until 2028, effective 1 January 2025. She’s trained with them on and off for the last year and in February became the youngest athlete to sign a name, image and likeness deal with Nike.

  • The news has been greeted by some strong fan opinions, with many questioning the safety, safeguarding and appropriateness of such a young teenager playing in an adult league.

  • The U18 mechanism[JB] (through which Whitham was signed) requires that clubs have specific provisions for pediatric medical care, monitoring, facilities (e.g. separate changing rooms), safety assessments and player development.

CONFIRMED TRANSFERS
CONTRACT RENEWALS
MANAGER MOVES
ELSEWHERE… THE RUMOURS ARE FLYING

→ After leaving Manchester United, Irene Guerrero is understood to be in advanced talks with Club América in Liga MX

→ Daphne van Domselaar (Aston Villa goalkeeper), is reportedly close to a deal with Arsenal.

👟 KIT DROP

Man Utd Blues, Olympic Edition Boots

Manchester United have dropped their new away shirt for 2024/25, and it’s inspired by the 3D monographs used on their shirts throughout the 90s. The monogram M (for, you guessed it, Manchester) creates a circular pattern that runs across the base navy colour of the kit.

Adidas has launched the ‘Stellar Icon’ football boot pack to coincide with the start of the Olympics. The range, which will be worn by female footballers during the competition, features the F50 Women’s Mid Boot in a bold new colourway.

The F50 Women’s Mid Boot. The Stellar Icon Pack is available from 10 August

Not to be outdone, Nike has launched its Olympic ‘Electric Pack’ which its athletes will wear during the games this summer. The pack has no women-specific fit but includes the usual suspects, Mercurial, Phantom and Tiempo, and the return of its iconic orange safari pattern in orange.

📺 DITCH THE SOFA

The Latest IRL Events

Australia vs USA - Olympics Screening with Baller FC

📅 Wednesday 31 July 2024
🕕 Doors at 5pm, 6pm kick-off
📍 The Leconfield, Green Lanes, N16 9BU
Info here

Bend it Like Beckham Screening
by Seeing is Believing & BrownGirlSport

Join us for an inspiring evening featuring a special screening of the iconic film "Bend It Like Beckham" and an engaging panel discussion about South Asians in sports and the film's impact.

📅 Saturday 10th August 2024
🕕 6-9pm; doors open at 5pm
📍 Indian Gymkhana Club, Thornbury Avenue, Osterley, TW7 4NQ
Book your free tickets here

Know about an event happening near you? Give us a heads-up.

📺 WEEKLY WATCHLIST

What to Watch

Wed, 31 JULY 2024 | OLYMPIC FOOTBALL

16:00 - Brazil vs Spain [Eurosport 5, discovery+]
16:00 - Japan vs Nigeria [discovery+]

18:00 - Australia vs USA [Eurosport 2, discovery+]
18:00 - Zambia vs Germany [Eurosport 5, discovery+]

20:00 - Colombia vs Canada [discovery+]
20:00 - New Zealand vs France [Eurosport 5, discovery+]

Sat, 3 August 2024 | OLYMPIC FOOTBALL

14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00
Quarter-finals - TBC [Eurosport 5, discovery+]

How to watch?
Discovery+ / Eurosport / BBC iPlayer

📂 JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

More Women Working in Football

📚 JARGON BUSTER

NewCo - The temporary name for the organisation taking over the running of the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship from the FA.

Alternative - The Olympics allow a very small squad of 18 players in the football tournament which can make things tricky if injuries occur. This year, teams were allowed to bring alternative players to replace injured players temporarily throughout the tournament.

U18 mechanism - Allows NWSL clubs to sign up to four U18 players without going through the draft system.

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