The Canadá men’s curling team beat the Suécia 8-6 in a match valid for the group stage of the Olimpíadas of Inverno of 2026, held in Milano Cortina, at the Itália. The confrontation, held on Friday, was marked by accusations of irregularity in the delivery of the stone and by an insult uttered by the Canadian Marc Kennedy directed at the Swedish Oskar Eriksson. World Curling confirmed the result of the match, but issued a formal warning to the Canadian team for inappropriate language and announced extra checks on future deliveries.
The game was highly competitive, and Canadá remained undefeated with three victories. Tensions rose in the penultimate end, when the score was 7-6 in favor of the Canadians. The Swedish team questioned the delivery of Kennedy, alleging double touching the stone after release, which violates current rules.
The incident that sparked the controversy
The discussion began when Oskar Eriksson warned Marc Kennedy about possible inappropriate touching of the stone. Kennedy reacted with an expletive, which was picked up by the local microphones. The exchange of words occurred at a time of high competitive pressure.
Officials briefly stopped the game to assess the Swedish complaint. Replays indicated that Kennedy touched the granite part of the stone, and not just the electronic cable. The sensors installed on the cables did not detect the violation, as they only registered contact on the cable after the hog line.
World Curling clarified that decisions made during the match are final and there is no use of video replay to review moves. The 8-6 result was fully maintained.
Technical rules under debate
The Olimpíadas of 2026 introduced electronic cables into the stones, which light up red in case of prolonged contact after the hog line. The technology aims for greater precision in complying with delivery rules. However, the case exposed a limitation, as the sensor does not register direct touches to the granite.
The rule states that the stone must be delivered exclusively by the handle. Qualquer contact with the granite during forward movement results in the stone’s immediate removal from play.
- Valid delivery: the player releases the cable before or on the hog line, without touching other parts.
- Common violation: double tap, which can change the stone’s trajectory or speed.
- Immediate consequence: stone removed and possible warning to the team.
World Curling sent a statement to all delegations reinforcing these standards. The measure aims to avoid misinterpretations in remaining matches.
Measures adopted by the organization
The entity announced the implementation of random checks starting from the Saturday afternoon session. Dois officers will circulate between the four lanes to closely observe deliveries. The action responds directly to the match incident between Canadá and Suécia.
There was no retroactive punishment for Canadá for touching the stone. The warning was limited to Kennedy’s verbal conduct. Qualquer repetition of abusive language may result in more severe sanctions.
Nolan Thiessen, head of Curling Canada, classified the episode as a heat-of-the-moment reaction. Ele acknowledged that the use of swear words was not appropriate, but contextualized it within Olympic competitiveness. Thiessen highlighted that accusations of irregularities also contributed to the tense atmosphere.
Context of the modality in Olimpíadas
Curling maintains a tradition of fair play and mutual respect between competitors. Incidentes of high temperature are rare, which increased the repercussion of the case. As Olimpíadas and Milano Cortina 2026 mark the debut of electronic sensors in all stones.
Canadá has a dominant history in the sport, with multiple medals in previous editions. The current team seeks to maintain hegemony in the men’s tournament. Suécia, current champion in some recent competitions, represents strong competition.
The group stage continues with daily matches at Cortina d’Ampezzo. The extra checks will apply to all teams, ensuring uniform application of the rules. World Curling emphasized that it is not feasible to keep officers stationed on all hog lines simultaneously.
Reactions from those involved
Marc Kennedy defended himself by stating that he has been playing professionally for 25 years and did not accept being called a cheat. Ele reinforced that both teams were looking for victory intensely. The answer, according to him, came from the provocation received during the end.
Oskar Eriksson regretted the officials’ initial misinterpretation of the rule. Ele explained that the permitted touch would only be on the electronic cable. The subsequent correction came after consulting the complete standards.
World Curling prioritized maintaining the result to preserve the integrity of real-time decisions. The entity opted for preventive measures instead of retroactive punishments. Manual checks complement existing technology.
Importance of extra checks
The introduction of mobile officers represents immediate operational adjustment. The measure covers all lanes simultaneously. Observers will specifically focus on deliveries close to the hog line.
Teams received clear guidance on the mandatory use of the cable. The rule aims to preserve the technical essence of the sport. Violações detected in the checks may lead to the immediate removal of stones.
The case highlighted the need for a balance between technology and human oversight. Electronic cables remain the main detection tool. Manual observations act as a complement in specific situations.
Team performance in the tournament
Canadá achieved their third consecutive victory in the group stage. The team demonstrates consistency in deliveries and game strategy. The victory over Suécia reinforced the position in the table.
Suécia absorbed the defeat, but remained competitive in other clashes. The European team is looking to recover in the following rounds. The men’s tournament remains balanced between the main powers.
Matches take place daily on Cortina d’Ampezzo, with international broadcast. The public is closely following the development of the controversy. The modality gains additional visibility with the episode.
World Curling monitors compliance with the new guidelines. Checks remain in place until the end of the competition. The central objective is to ensure fair application of technical rules.
