Curling has hit the headlines after a cheating storm at the Winter Olympics, and Express Sport’s verdict on Canada has dropped ahead of their Team GB showdown.

Tensions rose in the curling after Sweden accused Canada of double-tapping their stones (Image: Getty)

Controversy has erupted in the curling at the Winter Olympics. It all started when Canadian curler Marc Kennedy was accused of cheating by an opponent on Saturday. The Canada team were issued with a verbal warning by World Curling for “inappropriate language” after Kennedy admitted he had told Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson “where to stick it” during an argument over double-touching the curling stone after release on Friday.

Then, on Saturday, Canada’s women’s team were accused of for the same infringement in the first end of their match against Switzerland. Although a stunned Rachel Homan protested her innocence, while the men’s team also deny the accusations levelled against them. Team GB’s Bobby Lammie was also flagged for a double touch in the penultimate end of their 9-4 win over Germany on Sunday. And with the drama set to continue, Team GB face Canada tonight, and ahead of the game, Express Sport writers have had their say on the controversy…

Connor O’Neill

The first thing to point out is that anyone and everyone is innocent until proven guilty. And, ultimately, Marc Kennedy has not been found guilty of breaking any rules.

The only thing he has done so far is react in a way that is not fitting of an elite sportsperson. However, we have to remember that this is an elite-level sport we are watching.

We also have to remember that people have been training, in some cases, all their lives for this one shot at glory. People also care passionately about what they do.

Yes, Kennedy should not have said what he did and reacted in the way he did, but that doesn’t mean he should be punished. Also, if you are going to accuse someone of cheating, you have to be prepared for a fiery backlash.

Canada’s Marc Kennedy has hit the headlines (Image: Getty)

Patrick Austen-Hardy

Get off the high horse and let go of your pearls. Marc Kennedy has unintentionally slid curling into the Winter Olympics spotlight with as much force and power as he sends in his, definitely not, double-touched stones. Personally, I think curling is one of the most misunderstood and brilliant sports in the entire games and its criminal how little fanfare it gets.

Compared to the snowboarding tricksters, the ski-jumpers, the adrenaline filled skeleton and bobsleigh stars, and the ice hockey brutes, it lacks sexiness and razmatazz. Those who do not understand or appreciate the difficulty of the sport will roll their eyes when its on the screen and lament it as being boring.

Kennedy’s fiery, sweary rant, proceeding an act of definitely not obvious gamesmanship, has dragged the sport into the spotlight. If he was going to receive a punishment, it has to be handed to him there and then by the judge. For those demanding him to be placed into icey stocks, what do they want? VAR? A fine? A prison sentence? A stone brusquely slid into his pinke toe?

World Curling has already introduced on-ice officials to monitor double touching and you best believe they will have an eye on Kennedy and his Canadian team-mates. He won’t be able to reach for a glass of water without people staring intently at his fingertips. Instead of demanding punishments, sit back and let the curling, and maybe even the occasional swear word, wash over you. It’s one of the most satisfying and brilliant sports in the world – it’s just a shame there are few opportunities to have a go in the UK.

Aaron Morris

Marc Kennedy has single-handedly shone the spotlight on a truly underappreciated sport at this year’s Winter Olympics in curling, albeit, the way he has done so has certainly raised eyebrows. The Canadian has been acused of bending the rules by both Sweden and Switzerland at this year’s games, his on-ice verbal spat with Oskar Eriksson on display for the whole world to scrutinise.

The bottom line is that the 44-year-old hasn’t been found guilty of any wrongdoing by an official committee, with World Curling explaining that “there were no violations recorded” during Canada’s clash with Sweden. In fact, the only wrongdoing that the committee saw to have taken place was the language used by Kennedy in his protest of innocence, telling Eriksson to “f*** off,” out of frustration.

As a result, a verbal warning was issued to the athlete, but I wonder whether that action in itself was really necessary. My take is that it was a raw moment of passion which was unfortunately aired for the world to see and scrutinise in the aftermath.

We see footballers booked for dissent practically every week and you never see anyone kicking up much of a fuss about that, so why should we suddenly be so offended by Kennedy’s choice of words in a moment I’m sure he regrets? Just enjoy the game for what it is.

Isaac Seelochan

It’s the Olympics so tensions are going to be high with so much pressure on athletes. Having said that, Marc Kennedy’s reaction to being accused of cheating can’t be excused.

What was he thinking when the eyes of the world are watching? That’s not to suggest he did cheat but behaving like that at the Olympics is always going to draw disapproval – even if that attitude over what is just a sporting event could be considered a bit over the top.

However, I can see the argument that showing passion for something so huge for these athletes should be commended. It’s hard for outsiders to comprehend just how much of these athletes’ lives revolve around the sport they play.

That’s why I hope this goes no further for Kennedy. This has been a brilliant Olympics and curling has played a key role in providing so much drama and entertainment.