Canada and Sweden’s Curling Teams Clash Over Cheating Accusation
The men’s curling confrontation between Canada and Sweden escalated into a heated dispute on Friday, focusing on accusations of cheating. The Canadian team claimed an 8-6 victory amid tensions that erupted during the match.
Cheating Accusations During Curling Match
Sweden’s players accused Canada’s Marc Kennedy of illegally touching his stone after its release. This alleged act would be a violation of the rules, which state that players must release their stones before reaching the hog line, marked by a thick green line on the ice.
Details of the Incident
- The Swedish team reported Kennedy for giving his stone a secondary push with his finger.
- Upon review, close-up footage appeared to show Kennedy’s index finger making contact as the stone approached the hog line.
Following the complaint, officials positioned themselves at the hog line to monitor the match. However, previous plays could not be reviewed for potential infractions. Tensions between the two teams escalated, leading to outbursts from Kennedy, who defended himself passionately against the accusations.
Responses from the Teams
Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson expressed the desire for a fair and sportsmanlike game. He stated, “We want a game that is as sportsmanlike, honest and clean as possible.” He claimed that Kennedy’s actions violated the integrity of the match.
Kennedy reacted strongly to the allegations, stating, “I don’t like being accused of cheating after 25 years on tour and four Olympic Games.” He dismissed the accusations as unfounded, suggesting Eriksson was merely upset due to Sweden’s performance in the match.
World Curling Response
In a statement to the Canadian broadcaster CBC, World Curling did not confirm any infractions by Kennedy. They noted, “The issue of second touches of the stone was brought to the umpire’s attention.”
Officials monitored the play for three ends following the complaint but found no violations of the hog line rules. They later met with the Canadian team and issued a verbal warning regarding Kennedy’s language during the match, indicating that further misconduct could lead to sanctions.
Impact on Sweden’s Tournament Standing
The loss against Canada left Sweden with a daunting 0-3 record in the round-robin stage, significantly complicating their chances of progressing to the knockout phase. The team’s aspiration for a rematch now seems increasingly challenging.
