Canada and Sweden Clash in Heated Curling Match at Olympics

The men’s curling match between Canada and Sweden at the Winter Olympics ignited controversy and tension on February 9, 2024, when accusations of cheating surfaced. The incident unfolded in Italy during the ninth end when Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson confronted Canada’s Marc Kennedy, alleging that Kennedy had committed hog line violations.

Eriksson, who plays third for Team Niklas Edin, claimed that Team Canada was touching the granite portion of the stone after releasing it. “Apparently it’s OK touching the rock after the hog line,” Eriksson said, loud enough for the Canadian curlers to hear. Kennedy, visibly agitated, responded sharply, asking, “Who’s doing it?” Eriksson pointed in Kennedy’s direction, asserting that the Canadians had violated the rules multiple times.

Kennedy denied the allegations, using strong language to express his frustration. “You can f— off,” he replied to Eriksson, who continued to press the issue. Following further exchanges, Kennedy criticized Eriksson’s behavior, remarking on the Swedish player’s movements during the game, which he felt were distracting. “C’mon Oskar, just f— off,” Kennedy added, intensifying the already charged atmosphere.

Despite the heated exchange, Canada secured a victory, winning the match 8-6, which improved their round-robin record to 3-0. In contrast, Sweden fell to 0-3. After the match, Eriksson elaborated on the incident, emphasizing the integrity of the sport. “We tried to play an honest and fair game,” he told CBC. “There’s only one part where the sensor is, so if you touch anything else, it’s a burnt rock.”

Kennedy expressed his discontent with the cheating accusations, labeling them as “horsesh–.” He stated, “We’re the wrong team to accuse of cheating in the ninth end of a game,” indicating that the allegations were unfounded. While Kennedy acknowledged the intensity of the moment, he later expressed regret over his choice of words during the confrontation. “I just probably regret the language I used,” he admitted.

In response to the accusations, the World Curling Federation intervened. Following Sweden’s complaint, officials monitored both teams for three ends, ultimately reporting no violations. “There were no hog line violations or retouches of the stone during the observation,” the organization confirmed.

The incident did not conclude without further ramifications. World Curling issued a verbal warning to Canadian officials regarding Kennedy’s use of profanity, cautioning that any additional outbursts could lead to sanctions. Kennedy subsequently raised concerns about potential rule violations by Sweden, suggesting that someone from their team had been filming his deliveries, which is prohibited under Olympic guidelines. “They have come up with a plan here at the Olympics… it was kind of evident that something was going on,” he told reporters.

A video, allegedly recorded from the stands during the match, circulated on social media, showing Kennedy as he released the stone. Team Sweden denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the footage originated from the Swedish public broadcaster. Nolan Thiessen, CEO of Curling Canada, expressed surprise that a live video existed outside of Olympic Broadcasting Services regulations. “That seems odd to me,” he said.

The allegations extended beyond the men’s match, affecting the women’s tournament as well. On February 10, Canadian skip Rachel Homan faced a similar situation when an official removed a rock from play after she was seen touching it post-release during a match against Switzerland’s Team Silvana Tirinzoni. Homan strongly protested the ruling, stating, “I don’t understand the call… Refs shouldn’t be in our game.”

As the Olympic curling competition unfolds, the tension between Canada and Sweden highlights the competitive spirit and the high stakes involved in this prestigious event. With both teams seeking redemption and clarity, the coming matches promise to be just as intense.