Priestman won’t return as Canada women’s soccer head coach after drone-spying investigation
The independent report into the Olympic drone-spying scandal involving members of the Canadian women’s soccer team coaching staff has left as many questions as answers. The scandal, which resulted in a one-year FIFA ban for head coach Bev Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander, and analyst Joey Lombardi, has led to significant changes within Canada Soccer.
Canada Soccer has announced that Priestman, Mander, and Lombardi will not be returning to their coaching positions. The search for a new head coach for the women’s national team will begin shortly. Lombardi resigned shortly after the scandal came to light, while the exact nature of Priestman’s and Mander’s departures is still being determined.
The investigation into the scandal revealed that the practice of conducting surreptitious surveillance of opponents predated the Paris Olympics. Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue and president Peter Augruso acknowledged that the incident was a symptom of a difficult and unacceptable past culture within the national teams. The organization has initiated disciplinary proceedings against former coach John Herdman under its Disciplinary Code.
The report, conducted by Sonia Regenbogen from the law firm of Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark, uncovered internal pushback within the team over the use of drones for spying on opponents. The report revealed that two of the women’s national team coaches directed acts of improper surveillance that dated back several years.
Canada Soccer is implementing organizational changes in response to the scandal, including mandated reporting of unethical behavior, ethics training for coaches and staff, and the creation of a new independent Audit and Compliance Committee. The governing body is taking disciplinary steps based on the findings of the investigation, although the details of these actions will remain private.
While the full report is not being released, the 36-point summary made public contains redactions. Canada Soccer supported Regenbogen’s decision not to reveal the identities of those who provided evidence in order to maintain confidentiality. The organization is committed to transparently disclosing information while respecting the privacy of individuals involved.
The scandal has cast a shadow over the Canadian women’s soccer team, but Canada Soccer is determined to move forward and restore public trust. The changes being implemented within the organization signal a commitment to upholding ethical standards and ensuring fair play in the sport.
As the search for a new head coach begins, Canada Soccer is focused on rebuilding and creating a positive and respectful culture within the national teams. The organization is determined to learn from past mistakes and ensure that such incidents do not happen again in the future.
