Canada is facing new accusations of wrongdoing during a women’s match against Switzerland in the Winter Olympics. The men’s team from Canada engaged in a heated argument with Sweden, with the game overshadowed by a dispute over alleged double-touching incidents on the ice.
The Swedish team raised concerns that members of the Canadian team were guilty of double touching, a violation where stones are touched on or after the hog line – the point at which a stone must be released. The controversy spilled over to the next day when Canadian curler Rachel Homan had her stone disqualified for allegedly touching it again after releasing the handle.
Despite Homan’s protests, World Curling rules do not allow official replays, and the decision of the on-ice officials is final. Homan expressed disbelief, stating, “Absolutely not.” Her teammates, particularly Emma Miskew, expressed confusion, mentioning, “It looked like a perfect throw from our perspective, so I’m puzzled by that.” Homan added, “There is no way, I would love to see a video.”
Following the game, an upset Homan criticized the decision, saying, “I don’t comprehend the ruling. I will never understand it. We have never committed such an act. It is not something we would do.”
In response to the previous day’s incident involving the men’s team, Curling Canada issued a statement addressing the cheating allegations and a profanity-laden outburst by Marc Kennedy on television. The statement clarified that officials closely monitored the game for rule infractions, including those related to touching the stones following a complaint by Team Sweden. After thorough observation, no violations were found, and the Canadian men’s team received a verbal warning for inappropriate language, a warning that Curling Canada supported.
Kennedy expressed remorse for his language but stood by his actions, stating, “You can’t retract the words. You learn from it, move forward, and refocus on the game. However, when my integrity is questioned, my instinct is to defend myself.” He emphasized his commitment to fair play and denied ever cheating for a competitive advantage.
Sky has announced a price reduction for its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, offering savings and a larger selection of live matches across various leagues, including the Premier League and EFL. Sky will broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase from previous seasons.