Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) CEO David Shoemaker has revealed new information from Canada Soccer indicating that suspended women’s coach Bev Priestman was likely aware of the drone scandal that rocked the Paris Olympics.
The COC has fired Bev Priestman following her suspension by Canada Soccer. This came after New Zealand complained that Canada flew a drone over its training session before the opening match of the Olympics, which Canada won 2-1. Assistant coach Andy Spence will take over for the remainder of the Games.
Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue said withdrawing Canada from the tournament was not an option. He expressed frustration at the disruption but said he was confident the issue had been resolved quickly and appropriately.
Blue stressed that the players themselves had not engaged in unethical behavior.
Shoemaker supported the decision to keep the Canadian team in Paris to defend its Olympic gold medal, despite calls for its disqualification due to the scandal.
Blue also confirmed that the men’s team attempted to use drones during the recent Copa America in the United States, though coach Jesse Marsch condemned the practice after learning of it. Blue did not provide details, but said it did not affect the integrity of the match.
Reports of past use of drones by the Canadian women’s team, including at the last Olympics, added to the controversy. The thought of the scandal affecting the team’s gold medal in Tokyo made Blue uneasy.
Shoemaker said Canada Soccer’s conclusion to suspend Bev Priestman was based on substantial evidence, some of which was independently reviewed by the COC.
The scandal has led to calls for the Canadian team to be sent home, but Shoemaker remains confident in the team’s right to compete. He said the COC will continue to address each fact and situation as it arises, stressing the importance of fully answering Canadians’ questions.
TSN, Canada’s sports network, reports that the team’s use of drones predates the 2024 Olympics, with sources saying the team filmed opponents’ closed-door training sessions, including during the Tokyo Olympic tournament.
Blue acknowledged that new information suggests such behavior may be systemic.
The scandal has overshadowed one of Canada’s proudest Olympic moments, the women’s team gold medal in Tokyo. Shoemaker expressed disappointment that a performance in Tokyo could be tainted and pledged his full cooperation with Canada Soccer’s investigation.
Former coach John Herdman, who coached the women’s team from 2011 to 2018 and the men’s team until 2023, has denied any involvement in the coaching. He offered his support to the current players and promised to help the investigation.
Christine Sinclair, captain of the gold medal-winning team in Tokyo, condemned the use of drones and insisted the players had no knowledge of the activity.
Sweden, which Canada beat on penalties to win Olympic gold in Tokyo, has no plans to protest. A spokesman for Sweden’s PSSI said it would not make any statement on the matter.
Canadian officials saw the incident as an opportunity to reinforce their commitment to fair play. Shoemaker stressed the importance of winning with integrity and expressed regret for the scandal.
FIFA and the International Olympic Committee are investigating the incident, and Canada Soccer has announced an internal review to address the issue comprehensively.
Article tag: drone
“Social media fanatic. Problem solver. Bacon ninja. Communicator. Alcohol evangelist.”
