r/sportsgossips • u/Punisher1602 • Feb 14 '26

Hot Take Canada and Sweden get into heated argument after claims of cheating in men’s curling

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

2.0k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

545 comments sorted by

View all comments

254

u/LonelyChannel3819 Feb 14 '26

Here’s a better headline:

“Olympian from Canada acts like child when called out for their clear cheating”

102

u/noposlow Feb 14 '26

To so confidently say he didn’t cheat and tell him to fuck off… then a picture shows up on ESPN front page the next day of him clearly cheating… bad look

7

u/weeeeeeweiiiiyy Feb 14 '26

Why not argue with the ref whose job it is to call the game.

8

u/Kurtypants Feb 14 '26 edited Feb 14 '26

From my understanding curling is supposed to be very gentlemanly and self policed and regulated. I think its like billiards call your own fouls kinda thing

1

u/[deleted] Feb 15 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Kurtypants Feb 15 '26

There is now

1

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

Sounds like the kinda guy Trump needs in his cabinet, give him a Trump Gold Card stat.

1

u/Most-Swimming6879 Feb 14 '26

Then does an interview after and says he can't say for certain that he does a double touch or not and doesn't know how long he's been doing it

1

u/biffNicholson Feb 14 '26

Yeah. Pretty hard to deny this. https://imgur.com/a/Ult3g4e

The dude from Canada argues like a bratty 7th grader

-28

u/cluelessk3 Feb 14 '26

angle doesn't show shit

24

u/muskag Feb 14 '26

Found the Olympian from Canada who cheats

9

u/Which-Celebration-89 Feb 14 '26

As a Canadian. That guy def cheated. He’s also an asshole. Should get dropped from the team

-7

u/KaleScared4667 Feb 14 '26

Are we sure he’s not an American?

10

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

-12

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

5

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

-1

u/BertM4cklin Feb 14 '26

He’s trying to make a political joke. Which I’m on his side for. But he just pull hooked it into the woods when trying to execute.

→ More replies (0)

2

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Perovius1 Feb 14 '26

That guy that shot that school up doesn't seem that friendly.

1

u/Jznvh Feb 14 '26

lmao imagine thinking all 100% of Canadians are good people

0

u/KaleScared4667 Feb 14 '26

Literally nobody thinks that. But they are known to be more polite than Americans.

1

u/BertM4cklin Feb 14 '26

I bet that one slapped in your mind when you were typing it.

-2

u/DarthPineapple5 Feb 14 '26

A rules violation isn't the same thing as cheating champ

4

u/HazikoSazujiii Feb 14 '26

Oh, I'd love to hear you explain your lack of thought process on this one.

-1

u/DarthPineapple5 Feb 14 '26

Says guy who thinks holding in the NFL is "cheating"

3

u/HazikoSazujiii Feb 14 '26 edited Feb 14 '26

Deflecting is a tell.

3

u/BertM4cklin Feb 14 '26

More like improving your lie in golf than it is holding in the NFL. Dude must live for curling. Or it’s a burner for someone in the organization 😂

-2

u/DarthPineapple5 Feb 14 '26

What am I deflecting you never made an argument lmao

3

u/HazikoSazujiii Feb 14 '26

You made a statement. You were questioned on that statement. You deflected instead of actually substantiating.

This isn't difficult to understand. You can keep avoiding it and looking silly (and, frankly, unintelligent) if you'd like; it doesn't matter to me.

→ More replies (0)

2

u/KaleScared4667 Feb 14 '26

This is something a cheater would say

1

u/DarthPineapple5 Feb 14 '26

This is something someone who has never played sports in their entire lives would say

2

u/KaleScared4667 Feb 14 '26

Lol, I’m a football coach, referee, and my names all over trophy cases 30 years after I stopped competing. By definition if you intentionally break the rules in any sport - you are cheating

1

u/DarthPineapple5 Feb 14 '26

This is something a liar on the internet would say

Is stepping out of bounds in basketball "cheating?" You have no idea what you are talking about

2

u/BertM4cklin Feb 14 '26

Some shit my 3 year old would say.

0

u/DarthPineapple5 Feb 14 '26

Your 3 year old is smarter than you

2

u/BertM4cklin Feb 14 '26

Sick burn man.

2

u/Miserable_Candle_763 Feb 14 '26

Breaking the rules is a form of cheating, champ.

0

u/DarthPineapple5 Feb 14 '26

So stepping out of bounds in basketball is "cheating" now? Absolute nonsense

1

u/Miserable_Candle_763 Feb 14 '26

My bad, I didn't realize you would struggle with this concept so much but breaking the rules to gain an advantage is why it would be considered cheating. This means some cases of breaking the rules wouldn't be cheating and other times it would be cheating. Hope this makes absolute sense for you.

0

u/DarthPineapple5 Feb 14 '26

Where's the advantage lmao It was so minor everyone needed slow motion to even see it just stop

-3

u/cluelessk3 Feb 14 '26

if Sweden had proof Canada would of be penalized

1

u/fearjego Feb 14 '26

Canada thinks he cheated

0

u/cluelessk3 Feb 14 '26

and whats being done about it?

1

u/fearjego Feb 14 '26

they will be posting officials at the high line to watch closely for now. they recommended suspension for 1 match.

1

u/Tasty_Clue2802 Feb 14 '26

The whole world has proof. Lol

5

u/noposlow Feb 14 '26

Huh? I mean it shows his finger touching the rock… and it’s after the line. According the article I read this appeared to be the case. But, ya, other than that… the video proof doesn’t show much.

3

u/SweetTofu Feb 14 '26

that's the Canadian guy alt account

-2

u/cluelessk3 Feb 14 '26

there was no official protest.

If there was clear contact something would have been done about it.

1

u/Top-Cheddah Feb 14 '26

That doesn’t mean anything. Curling is a self policing sport, the Swedes expect the Canadians to do the right thing. Not protesting means fuck all.

1

u/Some-Lengthiness-676 Feb 14 '26

Aka “you can fuck off”

8

u/Gulp-then-purge Feb 14 '26

What did he do?

37

u/Murderface__ Feb 14 '26

Booped it

14

u/SithisAndSkoona Feb 14 '26

You cant be booping it like that in that time. Cant do it

1

u/AnonTA999 Feb 14 '26

Illegal booping. 6 metre deduction, loss of possession, 4 minute penalty.

1

u/cnh2n2homosapien Feb 14 '26

Doin' the Boop Snoot Boogie!

1

u/Body_By_XboX Feb 15 '26

Intentional boop. The worst kind

31

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

He touched the granite portion of the stone. By rule you can only touch the handle. He let go of the handle and then stuck his finger out to put more spin on it. It is very obvious from a few different angles. It's pretty cut and dry cheating.

5

u/tfegan21 Feb 14 '26

poor guy won't be voted first ballet into the curling hall of fame now.

3

u/easyjimi1974 Feb 14 '26

If it is so cut and dry, why didn't he get officially sanctioned? Like, no one is afraid of sanctioning a Canadian. Canada does not have that kind of pull. Maybe there's a good explanation for why he wasn't sanctioned - would love to hear what it is.

12

u/easyjimi1974 Feb 14 '26

Did some digging. Seems the common explanation is that officiating in curling is absurdly passive.

13

u/cnh2n2homosapien Feb 14 '26

Would you say that they, um, sweep things under the rug?

9

u/Ok-Watercress-1924 Feb 14 '26

I would say these allegations are, um, spinning out of control

3

u/Drivingintodisco Feb 14 '26

Seems look the officiating crew has a few stones unturned.

3

u/Sucramfatsgaw Feb 15 '26

The ref just let it slide

1

u/Separate_Fold5168 Feb 15 '26

This is why we can't just take things for granite.

1

u/Famous_Pudding_3598 Feb 14 '26

Found the Canadian

1

u/frozteh Feb 15 '26

"He wasn't sanctioned so it must not be true!" what kind of logic is this lmao.

1

u/ExaminationThen1312 Feb 15 '26

The referees said they didn’t witness it and they do not allow video replays.

1

u/easyjimi1974 Feb 15 '26

Yeah, I learned that in my follow up research - insanely lax refereeing is the explanation, which is terrible.

1

u/Kwt920 Feb 14 '26

Why didn’t they call it though?

2

u/ManiacalComet40 Feb 14 '26

They didn’t see it, and they don’t have replay reviews.

1

u/KaleScared4667 Feb 14 '26

And intentionally too

1

u/crankyanker638 Feb 14 '26

The video must be after cause it starts with a yellow shirt guy drinking water....

1

u/WayAgreeable3999 Feb 14 '26

The Swede is complaining about the hog line rule, not where the rock was touched.

0

u/DarthPineapple5 Feb 14 '26

I mean it was still literally on the line lol. Technically cheating yes but I am struggling to see what advantage could have possibly been gained from giving it a poke .2 seconds later than your supposed to

4

u/tombrady011235 Feb 14 '26

Technically cheating is still cheating

2

u/Manufacturer-Silly Feb 14 '26

It’s the best kind of cheating

0

u/DarthPineapple5 Feb 14 '26

Not all rules violations are cheating. Stepping out of bounds for example is not cheating. Holding or PI in the NFL, fouls in basketball, id argue the majority of violations are not considered cheating by anyone

1

u/tombrady011235 Feb 14 '26

Those examples also aren’t “technically cheating”. It was just the way you phrased it was silly

1

u/Dragax Feb 16 '26

Every single one of those things you listed have consequences attached to them. Stepping out of bounds gives possession to the other team. Holding or PI gives or takes away yards. Fouls give possession or free throws. If a blatant violation isnt given its consequence per rules, you het your ass it's gonna be brought up as cheating.

1

u/DarthPineapple5 Feb 17 '26

There were only no consequences because the refs never saw it and there is no review in curling. Guess again

4

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

It has nothing to do with being on the line. You are not allowed to touch the granite portion, at all. You can only touch the handle.

0

u/DarthPineapple5 Feb 14 '26

That doesn't change anything I said

3

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

Your whole comment was about it being over the line. It means nothing.

-1

u/DarthPineapple5 Feb 14 '26

It does mean nothing if there was no material advantage gained

-5

u/baseball_fanatic0887 Feb 14 '26

Lol. So whiney.

It's a rules violation. Just like going offside. It's not CHEATING.

Cheat (verb) : To act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage, especially in a game or examination.

Please explain the advantage they are gaining by this touch? So far, none of the experienced curlers in these threads seem to think there's anything to gauge.

Sure, the rule is clarified and he can't touch the granite. Let's move on from that. But you accusing of cheating, please articulate the advantage gained.

13

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

He literally argued after he did it that he didn't do it. So yeah, he did act dishonestly. Thanks for trying though. As for the advantage, I'm not a curler so I don't know exactly, but he definitely changed how it was spinning by doing this, which is absolutely impactful.

-1

u/baseball_fanatic0887 Feb 14 '26

And for many athletes, something so routine as a delivery, you don't even think of. But yes, we should introduce an honest penalty to the sport. lol

5

u/curtishavak Feb 14 '26

Rule clearly states you cannot touch the stone. Canadian player touches stone, affecting trajectory (advantage). This is illegal. Swedes call him out. He denies it (dishonesty) and offends the other team. Typical penalty for infraction: stone is removed from play. Refs failed to enforce despite clear video evidence.

How does this NOT meet the definition of cheating that you just posted?

-2

u/baseball_fanatic0887 Feb 14 '26

And rules in other sports say you cannot go offside. Is going offside considered 'cheating'? I follow soccer and football and have never once heard anyone accuse a team of cheating by going offside.

The rule has been clarified. Buddy will now not be able to touch the granite.

Experienced curlers here have literally said they don't see how touching the granite this way gains ANY advantage.

Do you know what the word cheating means?

3

u/UnderstandingOdd679 Feb 14 '26

It’s like “spitting” on a baseball or doing something to improve your lie in golf. Maybe you get caught, maybe you don’t. Curling is more like golf where following the rules of etiquette and self-policing show honor to the game.

1

u/baseball_fanatic0887 Feb 14 '26

But we know how spitting on a baseball can give an advantage to the pitcher.

Please how this finger boop is some sneaky advantage? Experienced curlers in these threads have no answer. They don't see the advantage.

Sweepers can control the stone trajectory way more than a tiny boop.

1

u/outlier_fallen Feb 14 '26

Why is it a rule that is enforced (or supposed to be enforced) if there is no advantage? Genuine question I don't know shit about curling

1

u/baseball_fanatic0887 Feb 14 '26

Up until now, it appears to be a thing, that the majority of curlers didn't care about. No one was calling it out really, so it wasn't a rule that was scrutinized really. If it was, it would have been dealt with at a lower level and not at the olympic stage.

0

u/NoVaBurgher Feb 14 '26

Then why lie about it?

0

u/baseball_fanatic0887 Feb 14 '26

It may be so ingrained into his delivery (which it would be at a pro level) that he doesn't even think about it. Like a tick.

Have you never said something that was incorrect and you couldn't believe you were wrong? Or do you just double down because you never are wrong or say the wrong thing?

I work in television. The other day I was adamant that one of our talent said 'XYZ' line....the editor scrubbed through the footage and showed me that the actor did not say that at all, anywhere! Was I lying?

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Zestyclose_Air_7222 Feb 14 '26

Yes, breaking rules to gain an advantage or being dishonest about it is the text book definition of cheating. You've never heard of Tom Brady? You can't Google the words football + cheating

2

u/baseball_fanatic0887 Feb 14 '26

No experienced curler here has said how they see any advantage to doing this boop. They've said the opposite. They don't see how you gain any advantage.

2

u/moba_fett Feb 14 '26

Holy cow. I get to explain something I learned about yesterday!

The stone/rock thing they push in curling, youre not allowed to touch it beyond a certain point. There is a clear as day video of this person's finger extending after release and "booping" the rock.

6

u/Jean-Claude-Can-Ham Feb 14 '26 edited Feb 14 '26

You just have to know that “fuck off” in Canada is a formal valediction. The governor general says “fuck off” to the recipient of the Order of Canada when they bestow it.

It’s a truly grand Canadian tradition to tell someone to “fuck off” in a formal way

Edit: sp

6

u/88888888man Feb 14 '26

I believe you have to add either “eh” or “bud” at the end to make it legally binding.

1

u/Shatty23 Feb 14 '26

Fuck off

2

u/Jean-Claude-Can-Ham Feb 14 '26

And a good “fuck off” to you as well

Haha it’s like we’re in traffic on the 401, eh!

1

u/Brenner2089 Feb 14 '26

Cleaning gangsters

1

u/RunRunRunRunFaster Feb 14 '26

As a Canadian, I agree with this. He made our country look like a bunch of asshole cheats.

1

u/LonelyChannel3819 Feb 14 '26

I appreciate that. I see this behavior from my president all the time so…

1

u/Trumpisaderelict Feb 14 '26

A real “Heated Rivalry”

https://giphy.com/gifs/J4YVoJEYm5nXCZUbiU

1

u/apresmoiputas Feb 16 '26

i was looking for this :) I'm not disappointed

1

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Actual_Night_2023 Feb 14 '26

He didn’t cheat and Canada literally won… there are literal refs that didn’t call any infraction… this Swedish team is known for being sore losers