Curling has been clouded in a storm of controversy on the Winter Olympics.
The Canadian curling staff has been concerned in a dishonest controversy. (Picture: Getty) This text comprises affiliate hyperlinks, we are going to obtain a fee on any gross sales we generate from it. Be taught extra
The 2026 Winter Olympics curling competitors has been rocked by a “double-touching” scandal
The row ignited when Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson accused Canada’s Marc Kennedy of a double contact throughout a match. This rule violation includes a participant touching the stone’s deal with or granite after it crosses the hog line, doubtlessly altering its trajectory.
Following the accusation, Kennedy launched into an expletive-laden outburst on stay tv. This led to a proper verbal warning from World Curling for inappropriate language, whereas the BBC was compelled to apologise to viewers for swearing on the printed.
Regardless of Kennedy’s fierce denials, Swedish broadcaster SVT launched footage that appeared to substantiate a transparent infraction. The clip, which went viral on social media, reveals the Canadian star’s fingers lingering on the stone after the authorized launch level.
Kennedy later claimed the controversy was a premeditated plan by the Swedes to “catch” them. A scorching mic reportedly captured Swedish gamers mentioning a team-mate was recording, resulting in claims that Sweden used particular digital camera angles to lure Canada.
The scandal widened when Canada’s Rachel Homan was penalised for a similar rule break towards Switzerland. Her stone was faraway from play, inflicting her to assert that Canadian curlers have been being unfairly focused as a result of males’s earlier incident.
Elevated officiating led to Workforce GB’s Bobby Lammie being flagged for the same violation towards Germany. In contrast to the Canadians, the Brits accepted the punishment with out grievance and went on to win their match comfortably.
World Curling initially ramped up hog-line monitoring however quickly carried out a sudden U-turn. Following athlete protests concerning over-scrutiny, umpires now solely monitor deliveries for 3 ends if a competing staff particularly requests it.
World Curling clarified that whereas gamers can retouch the deal with earlier than the hog line, any contact after that time is illegitimate. Moreover, touching the granite of the stone at any level throughout its ahead movement is strictly prohibited.
As a world curling powerhouse, Canada’s integrity has come below intense hearth. Whereas World Curling said no violations have been formally recorded on Friday, the visible proof and subsequent penalties have left the nation’s sporting repute severely bruised.
The controversy set a fiery backdrop for the crunch match between Workforce GB and Canada. With each groups then preventing for semi-final spots, the “dishonest” narrative added large strain to an already intense Olympic rivalry.
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