Canada Branded ‘Cheats’ After Swedish Paper Sets Up Its Own VAR Sting

The curling row at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics has continued to rumble on, after Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet openly accused Canada’s team of cheating and sent a photographer specifically to try to catch them in the act.

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It follows last week’s heated confrontation in which Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson repeatedly accused Canadian Marc Kennedy of illegal contact during delivery, claims Kennedy angrily denied.

Images Showing the Transgression

After the match, Aftonbladet published a sequence of images they claim show Canadian captain Brad Jacobs touching the granite of the stone during forward motion. Under World Curling rules, the stone must be delivered using the handle only, and contact with the granite once the stone is in motion is not permitted.

The newspaper then tracked Kennedy down for comment. He rejected any suggestion of deliberate cheating and criticised what he described as attempts to “catch people red-handed” in pursuit of medals.

“I can guarantee that there is not a single double touch out there that is done intentionally to cheat,” he said, adding that any team unhappy with a delivery has the right to call a referee. Aftonbladet also attempted to interview Jacobs but claims Canada’s press team refused access.

What the Images Allegedly Show

According to Aftonbladet, their photographs capture Jacobs’ hand making contact with the granite body of the stone after release, during forward motion. If the allegation is proven to have some substance, it would usually mean the stone is immediately removed from play.

However, there was no sanction put into place during the match – one that Canada went on to win with ease. With this latest development, the black cloud currently sitting over the sport seems to be going nowhere soon.