The Canadian women’s soccer team’s drone spying scandal has escalated dramatically, with head coach Bev Priestman suspended and removed from the Paris 2024 Olympics. This decision came after new information emerged suggesting a history of drone use against opponents, potentially dating back to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.Kevin Blue, CEO of Canada Soccer, acknowledged ‘frankly unacceptable shortcomings of ethical incidents’ by members of the Canadian coaching team. He stated that the organization is investigating a potential ‘systemic ethical shortcoming’. This revelation has raised questions about the integrity of both the women’s and men’s national teams, with reports suggesting that drone spying may have been a long-standing practice.The scandal began when a drone was used to spy on New Zealand’s training sessions, leading to the arrest of video analyst Joey Lombardi, who received an eight-month suspended sentence. Assistant coach Jasmine Mander was also sent home for her alleged knowledge of the spying.FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Canada Soccer, Priestman, and the individuals involved. The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) has also launched an independent investigation into the matter.The controversy has cast a shadow over the team’s 2021 Tokyo Olympics gold medal, with some questioning whether it should be stripped due to the alleged cheating. COC CEO David Shoemaker expressed discomfort with the idea that the issue could impact Canada’s Olympic gold medal from Tokyo 2020.Despite the turmoil, the Canadian team, led by interim coach Andy Spence, won their opening match against New Zealand 2-1. Canada Soccer has emphasized that the players were not involved in any unethical behavior, but the scandal has caused emotional distress among team members.As the investigations unfold, the incident has sparked a broader discussion about ethics in sports and the potential consequences of such actions on the integrity of international competitions.
Key points
- Canada’s women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman has been suspended and removed from the Paris 2024 Olympics due to a drone spying scandal.
- New information suggests the drone spying may have been a systemic issue within Canada Soccer, potentially affecting both women’s and men’s teams.
- The scandal has raised questions about the legitimacy of Canada’s 2021 Tokyo Olympics gold medal.
- FIFA and the Canadian Olympic Committee have launched investigations into the matter.
Contradictions👾While most sources report that Priestman was suspended and removed from the Olympics, one source suggests she voluntarily left the team to take responsibility.
👾There are varying accounts of the extent of Priestman’s involvement, with some sources suggesting she was likely aware of the drone use, while others report her denial of involvement.
