A scandal rocked the Canadian women’s soccer team as its head coach, Bev Priestman, was suspended just one day before the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony. The Canadian Olympic Committee made the decision to suspend Priestman due to her alleged involvement in a drone-spying scandal during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and previous incidents of similar cheating.
Canada Soccer CEO & General Secretary Kevin Blue stated, “Over the past 24 hours, additional information has come to our attention regarding previous drone use against opponents, predating the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.” As a result, Priestman was suspended for the remainder of the Olympic Games in Paris, pending the completion of an independent external review.
The scandal first surfaced when an unauthorized drone was spotted above a New Zealand women’s soccer practice and linked to the Canadian coaching staff. Team analyst Joseph Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander were both removed from the Olympic team and sent home as a result of this revelation.
Sources reported by Front Office Sports and TSN revealed that Canada’s men’s and women’s national soccer teams have a history of using drones and spying techniques to film opponents’ closed-door training sessions, dating back several years. The repercussions of these allegations are significant, casting a shadow of doubt over Canada’s success on the field.
Joseph Lombardi admitted to spying on the New Zealand team and faced legal consequences, including a suspended sentence and a fine. The impact on Team Canada’s reputation remains uncertain, with questions lingering about the extent of their spying and the overall integrity of their achievements at the Olympic tournament.
With Bev Priestman and two assistants removed from their roles, the future of Team Canada hangs in the balance. Priestman expressed remorse for the actions taken by her team, emphasizing a commitment to integrity and sportsmanship. However, the fallout from this scandal raises doubts about the team’s credibility and fair play moving forward.