Canada faced new accusations of impropriety during a women’s match against Switzerland at the Winter Olympics. The Canadian men’s team engaged in a heated argument with Sweden during their game, which was overshadowed by a dispute over double-touching claims on the ice.
The Swedish team alleged that Canadian players had double-touched stones, which occurs when stones are touched after the hog line, the designated release point. The controversy extended into the following day when Canadian curler Rachel Homan had her stone disqualified for allegedly touching it again post-release, as per the official’s call.
Despite Homan’s protestations, World Curling regulations do not permit official replays, and the initial ruling stands unchallenged. Expressing disbelief on the ice, Homan stated, “Absolutely not.”
Homan’s teammates shared her frustration, with Emma Miskew remarking, “It seemed like a perfect throw from our perspective, so I am puzzled by that.” Homan added, “There is no chance. We would like to see a video.”
Following the match, a visibly upset Homan criticized the decision, saying, “I do not comprehend the ruling. It makes no sense to me. We have never done that. This has nothing to do with us.”
In response to the drama in the men’s game the previous day, Curling Canada issued a statement addressing the cheating allegations and an incident involving Marc Kennedy’s inappropriate language on television. The statement emphasized the organization’s commitment to fair play, respect, and sportsmanship.
While regretting his choice of language, Kennedy stood by his actions in defending himself and his team. He stressed the importance of integrity in his career, stating that he has never resorted to cheating for a competitive advantage. Kennedy acknowledged the need to learn from the situation and redirect the focus back to curling.
Sky has announced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, offering savings of £192 and access to over 1,400 live matches across various leagues. The package includes a significant increase in the number of live Premier League games to be broadcast next season.
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