Canada Women’s Soccer Team Coach Sent Home Amid Drone Spying Scandal
The Canada women’s soccer team has been rocked by a scandal involving the use of drones to spy on opponents, leading to the suspension of head coach Bev Priestman. Priestman was sent home from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on Friday, just hours after the team’s 2-1 win over New Zealand.
According to reports, a Canada Soccer staffer was caught flying a drone over New Zealand’s training session earlier this week, sparking the scandal. The issue has apparently been going on for quite some time, with sources claiming that both the men’s and women’s national teams have “relied on drones and spying for years.”
The scandal has overshadowed the team’s gold medal defense at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue addressed the media on Friday, saying that the footage seized by authorities was not seen by the players ahead of their opening match and that no players were involved in “unethical behavior.”
Blue added that if FIFA hands down any further punishment, he hopes it does not come in the form of a points deduction due to how Canada Soccer has quickly addressed the matter. FIFA’s investigation into the team was opened on Wednesday.
Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive officer David Shoemaker said on Friday that Priestman was “highly likely” to have been aware of the drone usage on New Zealand’s training sessions. Priestman has denied the allegation.
The team will continue to play in the tournament under the guidance of assistant coach Andy Spence, who will take over on an interim basis. Canada plays its second group game on Sunday in Saint-Étienne against France.
Blue believes that Canada Soccer has addressed the situation swiftly and appropriately, saying that withdrawing the team from the Olympics would be to the detriment of the players who have worked hard to be Olympians.
