FIFA probing Team Canada comments after soccer game

International soccer’s governing body, FIFA, may discipline members of Team Canada after comments made following a heartbreaking and controversial 4-3 loss to the U.S. in the women’s Olympic semifinal game Monday.

The Americans scored the game’s tying goal after Norwegian referee Christiana Pedersen penalized Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod for holding the ball for more than six seconds.

The call outraged Canadian captain Christine Sinclair, who scored three goals in the game.

“We feel like we didn’t lose. We feel like it was taken from us,” Sinclair said. “It’s a shame in a game like that that was so important, the ref decided the result before it started.”

“She’ll (Pedersen) have to sleep in bed tonight after watching the replays. She’s got that to live with,” she said “We’ll move on from this. I wonder if she’ll be able to.”

FIFA said in a release it would investigate the comments with the possibility of disciplinary action.

“Following the Olympic Women’s semi-final match between Canada and the USA played at Old Trafford on the evening of 6 August, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee is currently analyzing incidents that occurred after the conclusion of the match,” it said in the release.
 
“Further information will be provided only after the Committee are [sic] in possession of all the elements of the case.”

Canadian coach John Herdman felt for Sinclair after her heroic effort fell short.

“Christine, to come and score a hat trick in a semifinal of an Olympic Games against our biggest rivals and not to come away with something. . . there’s something that isn’t right about it,” he said.

The U.S. will now face Japan in the final, with Canada facing France on Thursday for the bronze.

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