Winter Olympics Curling Scandal: Marc Kennedy Breaks Silence on Cheating Row
Tensions flared dramatically on the ice at the Winter Olympics as a bitter dispute between Canada and Sweden overshadowed an otherwise thrilling curling showdown. The scandal, centred on Canadian curler Marc Kennedy, has sparked widespread controversy and official interventions.
Hard-Fought Victory Marred by Allegations
Canada secured a hard-fought 8-6 victory over defending champions Sweden in a high-stakes round-robin match. This win was critical for Canada, led by skip Brad Jacobs, while it added further pressure to a struggling Swedish side. However, the match was severely tarnished by a heated cheating scandal involving Canadian curler Marc Kennedy and Sweden's Oskar Eriksson.
Eriksson repeatedly accused Kennedy of double-touching the stones after they had passed the hog line, a clear violation of curling rules. This led to a foul-mouthed confrontation where Kennedy told his opponent to f*** off in front of cameras, expressing outrage at the claims while Eriksson insisted he had video evidence of the infractions.
Escalating Tensions and Official Scrutiny
Tensions escalated rapidly as both sides began pressuring match officials to monitor their opponents more closely. Sweden's Niklas Edin backed his teammate's complaints, while Canada's Ben Herbert launched a counter-protest regarding the Swedes' own delivery techniques. Slow-motion replays showed Kennedy touching a stone after its release, but officials ruled they could not confirm the violation with enough certainty to take action.
World Curling subsequently issued a statement to clarify the specific regulations regarding hog line releases and stone removal. Kennedy dismissed the allegations, pointing out that the stones were equipped with electronic hog line sensors. He stated that he did not appreciate being called a cheat and defended his aggressive verbal response to the Swedish team.
Broader Fallout and Team Reactions
Swedish players repeatedly lobbied officials, with Oskar Eriksson and Niklas Edin claiming video evidence proved violations occurred past the hog line. In response, Canadian player Ben Herbert asked judges to scrutinize Sweden’s delivery techniques for similar infractions. World Curling officials met with Canadian representatives to issue a verbal warning regarding the offensive language used during the broadcast.
The BBC was forced to issue an on-air apology after microphones picked up the foul-mouthed exchange. Commentator Steve Cram apologised to viewers for the frustrating expletives broadcast live during the heated sixth end of the game. Switzerland's Pablo Lachat-Couchepin reported Kennedy to the umpire for allegedly double-touching a stone, clarifying his complaint aimed at ensuring all teams comply with rules monitored by on-ice officials.
International Perspectives and Technical Details
Team GB's Bruce Mouat emphasised that fair play is a cornerstone of the sport, suggesting Kennedy likely didn't intend to break the rules but noted the situation must be regulated by athletes and officials. Team GB curler Logan Gray observed that Kennedy technically broke two rules if allegations are true, but admitted the competitive benefit from a double tap might be minimal, making the label of cheating a stretch.
World Curling officials stated that umpires saw no evidence of illegal touches or hog line violations, with electronic sensors on stone handles remaining green. Sweden argued the touch occurred on the stone's granite body rather than the handle. Kennedy countered by suggesting the Swedish team had premeditated the scandal to rattle the Canadian squad, claiming Swedish staff were strategically positioned with cameras at the hog line.
Serious Consequences and Ongoing Monitoring
The fallout extended beyond the ice, with Kennedy's family reportedly receiving threats on social media following the viral exchange. Other teams like Switzerland have raised similar concerns about Canadian delivery techniques, prompting officials to increase on-ice monitoring. World Curling issued a formal warning, urging officials to enforce rules more strictly and cautioning that further inappropriate behaviour or foul language from the Canadian team could result in serious sanctions or suspensions.
