Bev Priestman out at Canada Soccer in wake of drone scandal
Bev Priestman Steps Down as Coach of Canadian Women’s Soccer Team
In the aftermath of an independent report on the Olympic drone-spying scandal, Bev Priestman has announced her departure as the coach of the Canadian women’s soccer team.
Canada Soccer has also confirmed that assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi, who were both handed one-year FIFA bans for their involvement in the illegal drone incident, will not be returning to the organization. Lombardi has already resigned, while the exact nature of Priestman’s and Mander’s departure is still being determined.
Furthermore, Canada Soccer has initiated disciplinary proceedings against former coach John Herdman following the findings of the independent review. The organization has cited “potential violations” of its code of conduct and ethics by Herdman, who previously served as the head coach of the men’s national team.
It is worth noting that Herdman did not participate in discussions with Sonia Regenbogen, the author of the independent report, due to scheduling conflicts. Canada Soccer has only released a redacted summary of Regenbogen’s findings, but CEO Kevin Blue has emphasized that the drone incident in Paris was indicative of deeper issues within the national teams, including a lack of oversight and an unacceptable culture.
