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In a valley bordering the hilly neighborhoods on the edge of this small French town, a modest two-field soccer complex has become the epicentre of controversy in a faltering Canada Soccer program.

A team analyst, who was part of the coaching staff for the Olympic women’s football team, was caught using a drone to spy on New Zealand’s training sessions at the stadium before the start of the Paris Olympics.

FIFA slammed the program last weekend, stripping the team of six points, fining Canada Soccer and banning three coaches — including head coach Bev Priestman — for a year.

The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer are appealing FIFA’s points deduction. A hearing is scheduled for later Tuesday at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Paris.

A decision was expected before Canada closes out Group A play against Colombia in Nice on Wednesday night.

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