Milano (Bureau): A tense round-robin encounter at the Winter Olympics saw Brad Jacobs’ Canada defeat Sweden 8-6 on Friday, but the result was overshadowed by accusations of rule violations from **Niklas Edin’s side.
The controversy began early in the match when Sweden raised concerns that Canadian players were allegedly making contact with the stone after release — a potential breach of curling regulations. Swedish officials requested umpires to closely monitor Canada’s deliveries. In response, the Canadian team asked officials to observe Sweden’s throws as well, creating a tense atmosphere on the ice.
The friction intensified in the later stages of the contest. After Sweden narrowed the deficit to 7-6 by scoring two points in the penultimate end, a heated exchange erupted between Canada’s Marc Kennedy and Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson. Eriksson reportedly claimed he had video evidence suggesting repeated contact with the stone, prompting an angry response from Kennedy.
Speaking after the match, Kennedy rejected the allegations, emphasizing his decades-long professional career and dismissing any suggestion of wrongdoing. “It’s the Olympics. Both teams want to win,” he said, adding that he did not appreciate being accused of cheating.
Electronic Monitoring System Under Spotlight
At these Games, World Curling has implemented electronic hog line devices designed to detect illegal contact. The stones are equipped with sensor-fitted handles that interact with a magnetic strip embedded in the ice. If a player maintains contact beyond the hog line — the point by which the stone must be released — the handle flashes red.
Kennedy pointed to the technology as evidence of compliance. However, Eriksson argued that the issue involved players allegedly touching the stone itself rather than the electronic handle, meaning the red warning light would not necessarily activate.
Sweden maintained that officials initially misunderstood the rules regarding double touches but later clarified that only the electronic handle may be touched during delivery.
Officials Find No Violations
In a statement issued after the match, World Curling confirmed that umpires closely monitored deliveries for three ends following Sweden’s complaint. No hog line violations or illegal retouches were observed during that period.
Sweden, defending champions, had already suffered losses to Great Britain and Italy earlier in the tournament. Despite the tension, Edin expressed disappointment over the heated exchanges, noting the long-standing camaraderie between players.
“We’ve known each other for 20 years,” Edin said, describing the confrontation as unfortunate but part of high-stakes competition.
The victory improves Canada’s standing in the round-robin phase, while Sweden faces mounting pressure as it seeks to revive its Olympic title defence.
