Canada Soccer studying drone-spying review, says it shows past ‘unacceptable culture’
Canada Soccer has finally received the independent review into the Paris Olympics drone-spying scandal more than three months after it was announced. The findings have not yet been released, but Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue hinted at a troubling pattern within the national teams.
According to Blue, the drone incident in Paris was not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of a larger issue of an unacceptable culture and lack of oversight within the national teams. While the organization is still deliberating on how to address these findings, they are committed to releasing key conclusions and next steps within a week.
The scandal unfolded when Canada women’s coach Bev Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander, and analyst Joseph Lombardi were suspended by FIFA for one year following a complaint from New Zealand’s Olympic Committee. The complaint alleged that drones were flown over two pre-tournament practice sessions. Priestman’s future with Canada Soccer remains uncertain as the review continues.
The FIFA Appeals Committee ruling highlighted an internal email exchange within Canada Soccer that showed performance analyst Morgan Drew resisting a request from Priestman to use drones for scouting purposes. Priestman reportedly suggested that using drones for spying was a common practice within both the men’s and women’s teams.
The ruling also implicated former Canada coach John Herdman in the spying scandal, suggesting that the practice of using drones may have originated with him during his tenure as head coach of the women’s national team. Herdman, who has since moved on to coach Toronto FC, has promised to cooperate with the review but has refrained from publicly addressing the allegations.
Despite the controversy, Herdman’s record remains unblemished at major events like the Olympics and World Cups. He led the Canadian women to two Olympic medals and two Women’s World Cup appearances before transitioning to coach the Canadian men’s team.
Canada Soccer has been docked six points and fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($317,660) as a result of the spying scandal. The organization is conducting a broader investigation into the issue, with FIFA expecting to receive the results to determine if further action is necessary.
The defending champion Canadian team, ranked sixth in the world, was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Olympic football tournament by Germany. Despite the setback, Canada Soccer remains committed to addressing the cultural issues within the national teams and ensuring transparency moving forward.
