LONDON -- Canada will not suffer any penalty from FIFA before it plays for the bronze medal at the London Olympics, soccer's governing body said in a release Wednesday.

"In view of the elements currently at its disposal, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee considers that further investigation will be needed regarding incidents that occurred after the conclusion of the match between Canada and the USA on 6 August at Old Trafford," FIFA said in an email release.

"The FIFA Disciplinary Committee is therefore not in a position to take any decision at present. Further information will be provided in due course, but not prior to the bronze medal match between Canada and France on 9 August."

On Tuesday, FIFA announced it was looking into incidents "after the conclusion" of the semifinal game between Canada and the United States on Monday. The Canadians lost in heart-breaking fashion, and several players, including captain Christine Sinclair, provided sharp criticism of Norwegian referee Christiana Pedersen.

Canada was scheduled to practice later in the day on Wednesday before facing France for the bronze medal on Thursday. The United States will play Japan for gold after scoring in the dying minutes of added extra time against Canada, leading to a 4-3 win.

The Norwegian official made a handful of decisions that irked the Canadians, but perhaps none more so than a delay of game call on goalkeeper Erin McLeod that led to a penalty kick and a tying goal.

"It's a shame in a game like that that was so important, the ref decided the result before it started," Sinclair told reporters after the game.

Teammate Melissa Tancredi was asked what she said to the referee after the match: "I hope you can sleep tonight and put on your American jersey because that's who you played for today.' I was honest."

The result of the game provoked a strong reaction in Canada, but it has also led to some sober second thought. Vancouver Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie said he went back and counted just how long McLeod was holding the ball.

"I think obviously at the time watching it I felt they were pretty hard done by on the refereeing decision," Rennie told The Vancouver Sun. "Watching it again, I realized the goalkeeper held the ball for 16 seconds, in the second half she held it for 17 seconds and then she got penalized for holding for 13 seconds. So, that's a long time on the ball and understandable why the ref called it."

The Norwegian referee will not work another game at these Olympics, but it remains unclear if she was on the schedule to work any more, anyway.

"I think we have to be grown-ups about sport — it does bring out some really strong emotions," International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said. "People do get upset by results. I know when my team loses I get very upset, but that's something we have to deal with."

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