Canada Soccer has released the findings of an investigation into this past summer’s drone spying scandal at the Paris Olympic games and revealed that women’s national team coach Bev Priestman will not return.
‘The three individuals currently suspended by FIFA will not be returning. The search for a new head coach for the Women’s National Team will commence shortly,’ read a statement from Canada Soccer.
Priestman had been in charge of the Canadian women’s national team since 2020 and helped guide Les Rouges to an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo in 2021.
In addition to Priestman, Canada Soccer revealed that assistant coach Jasmine Mander, and unaccredited analyst Joseph Lombardi – both of whom, like Priestman, were suspended by FIFA for one year – will also not return to the team.
Canada Soccer officially released the findings from an independent investigation conducted by Sonia Regenbogen of Mathews, Dinsdale, & Clark LLP.
Canada women’s national team coach Bev Priestman will not be returning to the team
The investigation found that ‘two women’s national team coaches directed, approved and condoned the actions taken by a third member of the Women’s National Team coaching staff to film practices of an opposing team at the Paris Olympics using a drone.’
Investigators did say that the footage captured was not viewed by players on the women’s national team.
The report also said that ‘potential violations of the Canada Soccer Code of Conduct and Ethics by the former head coach of the Men’s National Team were identified.’ It did not name the specific coach, but added that a disciplinary process is being initiated.
Notably absent from this report is any mention of former Canada Men’s National Team coach and Canada Women’s National Team coach John Herdman. In the additional notes of the report, it was revealed that Herdman was not interviewed due to ‘scheduling issues’.
According to the report, some assistant coaches and staff members, ‘felt uncomfortable with the practice of spying on opponents but did not feel they could challenge the authority of the head coach.’
The report added that two WNT coaches ‘directed acts of improper surveillance predating the 2024 Paris Olympics,’ but added that no evidence was found of that taking place at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, ‘likely due to the highly restrictive nature of the lockdowns related to Covid-19.’
In addition, the allegation of drone usage by members of Canada’s men’s national team at the 2024 Copa America were unsubstantiated. However, a member of staff did use a device to record footage for a promotional video at the tournament.
Neither Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue or Canada Soccer President and Board Chair Peter Augruso condoned the use of drones and weren’t previously aware of the situation.
Priestman was in charge of Canada’s women’s team at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics
Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue says the incident was ‘a symptom of a past pattern of an unacceptable culture and insufficient oversight within the national teams’
According to the statement from Canada Soccer, ‘Further internal examination of culture and organizational ethics is ongoing and will continue under Blue and Augruso. Several structural changes to Canada Soccer’s operations were initiated in response to this incident, and governance reforms starting in June 2024 are continuing to be implemented.’
In his own statement, Augruso said, ‘Over the last several months, Kevin has brought forward plans to increase accountability and transparency across the organization to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
‘This work has already begun, and will continue as we move forward, so that these practical measures will ensure excellence and integrity on the pitch and within the organization.
‘At the Board level, we are implementing the recommendations of the June 2024 independent governance report to modernize our structure and processes, while enhancing oversight.’
Blue also released his own statement, saying, ‘The findings of the independent investigator reveal that the drone incident in Paris was a symptom of a past pattern of an unacceptable culture and insufficient oversight within the national teams.
‘This is no longer part of our operations. In fact, the investigation findings strengthen our resolve to continue implementing changes that are needed to improve Canada Soccer, in all respects, and to do so with urgency.
‘Even though the independent investigation has been concluded, there is more to be done to set things on a new course. We will continue to scrutinize the cultural and ethical foundations of our organization and we will dig in to learn more.
Canada was hit with a points deduction, but made it to the first round of the knockouts in Paris
‘As we do, we will take additional steps to ensure compliance with our ethical standards and Code of Conduct, and we will communicate to stakeholders as appropriate.
‘We are working to change Canada Soccer into a federation that Canadians trust and are proud of, and one that is not defined by unfortunate actions of the past.’
At the Paris Olympics, Canada’s women’s team was hit with a six point deduction by FIFA and Priestman, Mander, and Lombardi were all suspended.
In addition to the points deduction, the federation was fined 200,000 Swiss francs for the infraction.
‘[Canada] was found responsible for failing to respect the applicable FIFA regulations in connection with its failure to ensure the compliance of its participating officials of the Olympic Football Tournament (OFT) with the prohibition on flying drones over any training sites,’ read the official decision on FIFA’s website.
In a press conference after the point deduction was announced, Blue called the point deduction ‘unfair’.
Despite the points deduction, Canada managed to finish second in their group on goal difference and advanced to the knockout stage. They lost to Germany on penalties.
