The appeal by the Canadian soccer federation over the assignment of French referee Stephanie Frappart for their Women’s Olympic semi-final against the United States has been denied. The decision was made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Tuesday.
In a statement released by CAS, it was explained that the Canadian federation had requested the removal of Frappart from the match due to what they perceived to be her lack of experience in officiating games of such magnitude. However, after reviewing the case, CAS determined that there was no valid reason to interfere with the original appointment.
Following the ruling, Canadian head coach Bev Priestman expressed her disappointment in an email to the federation. “I understand the concerns that were raised, but ultimately we have to trust the decision of the governing bodies and focus on preparing for the game ahead,” she wrote.
Priestman’s response was not well-received by some Canadian fans, who had hoped for a different outcome. However, former national team player Kaylyn Kyle defended the coach’s handling of the situation. “We have to support Bev and the team no matter what. This is a tough blow, but we have to stay united and focused on the task at hand,” she said.
The Canadian team now faces the challenge of taking on the reigning Olympic champions without the backing they had hoped for. However, their determination to overcome the odds and make history remains undiminished. As forward Janine Beckie put it, “We have come too far to let this setback derail our dreams. We will fight until the final whistle and give it our all.” With kick-off fast approaching, all eyes will be on the Canadian squad as they look to defy the odds and earn a spot in the Olympic final.
