The Canadian women’s football team have suspended and sent home their head coach from the Paris Olympics after the ‘drone spying’ scandal deepened.
Canada previously dismissed two members of their coaching staff after they were accused of using a drone to fly over and film the training sessions of rivals New Zealand.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) opened an investigation, while head coach Bev Priestman apologised for her staff’s actions before removing herself from the dugout for Thursday’s clash against New Zealand.
The defending Olympic champions managed to win 2-1 but in a shocking turn of events, Priestman has now been sent home after the investigation found that this was not the first time the team had spied on opponents.
A statement in the early hours of Friday morning read: ‘The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed the Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team Head Coach Bev Priestman from the Canadian Olympic Team due to her suspension by Canada Soccer.
‘Assistant coach Andy Spence will lead the Women’s National Soccer Team for the remainder of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.’
Additionally Canada Soccer CEO & General Secretary Kevin Blue said: ‘Over the past 24 hours, additional information has come to our attention regarding previous drone use against opponents, predating the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
‘In light of these new revelations, Canada Soccer has made the decision to suspend Women’s National Soccer Team Head Coach, Bev Priestman for the remainder of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and until the completion of our recently announced independent external review.’
Additional reports from Canadian outlet TSN have sensationally claimed that coaching staff and contractors working with both the men’s and women’s teamshave been ‘engaged for years in efforts to film the closed-door training sessions of their opponents’.
These practices supposedly go back to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where Canada’s women claimed the Gold medal.
World football’s governing body FIFA are also running their own investigation into the scandal.
If the reports are true it will be especially damning for Canada Soccer with the country gearing up to co-host the men’s World Cup in 2026 with the USA and Mexico.
Prior to her suspension, Priestman, formerly assistant manager of the Lionesses, issued her own statement: ‘On behalf of our entire team, I first and foremost want to apologise to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and to the players on Team Canada.
‘This does not represent the values that our team stands for. I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program.
‘Accordingly, to emphasize our team’s commitment to integrity, I have decided to voluntarily withdraw from coaching the match on Thursday. In the spirit of accountability, I do this with the interests of both teams in mind and to ensure everyone feels that the sportsmanship of this game is upheld.’
Following their win over New Zealand, Canada will play hosts France on Sunday and then Colombia next Wednesday.