Canada’s women’s team head coach Bev Priestman has been suspended from her duties for the remainder of the Olympics pending ongoing investigations into their “use of drones.”
Canada beat New Zealand 2-1 on Thursday to kick off Group A play in Paris, though the encounter was anything but routine. Before the match, New Zealand accused their opponents of using drones to spy on their training sessions ahead of the game.
As a result, two staff members were let go, Joseph Lombardi, a team analyst, and Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach, although Priestman has now joined those staff members in packing their bags.
In a mind-boggling turn of events, TSN reported that Canada’s two soccer teams have allegedly been “using drones and espionage” for years.
Canada reportedly used the strategy during the 2021 women’s Olympic tournament, which earned it the gold medal, as well as at least one practice session ahead of a women’s national team match against Panama in July 2022.
Canada Soccer will reportedly conduct an “independent external review” into the incident, while FIFA has launched its own “disciplinary process.”
In a statement announcing Bev Priestman’s suspension, Canada Soccer CEO and General Secretary Kevin Blue said: “Additional information has been brought to our attention regarding the past use of drones against opponents, prior to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“In light of these new revelations, Canada Soccer has made the decision to suspend Canada 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.”