OLYMPIC GAMES
Sacked Canada coach Bev Priestman’s drone use regret: “I am devastated”
After learning of the FIFA sanction, former Canada women’s team coach Bev Priestman apologized, assumed accountability and agreed to cooperate in the investigation.
Canada women’s soccer team is having a tough time making it to the quarter-finals of the Paris Olympics. Despite winning the first match against New Zealand (2-1), Canada is down three points due to the spy drone scandal that came to light a few days ago. It involved the use of illegal drones in the training sessions of other teams over a number of years. Canada Soccer took action and fired coach Bev Priestman, but FIFA was much more blunt: a six-point deduction for Paris 2024, one-year ban for Bev Priestman and two other members of the coaching staff and a fine of 200,000 Swiss francs for the Canadian Soccer Association.
The Canadian coach’s response to the scandal and FIFA’s sanction was not long in coming. In a statement, Priestman wanted to apologize to her players and to Canada. “I am absolutely heartbroken for the players. I would like to apologize from the bottom of my heart for the impact this situation has had on all of them. As the leader of the team on the field, I want to take accountability and I plan to filly cooperate with the investigation,” she said.
Born in England, she also had a few words for her adopted home: “To Canada, I am sorry. You have been my home and a country I have fallen in love with. I hope you continue to support these talented and hard-working players. This team has helped the country reach the top of women’s football, and the gold medal won at the last Olympic Games was achieved through courage and determination, despite what they say to the contrary.”
The investigation is ongoing and FIFA's sanction is open to appeal, which the coach is likely to do. "I would like to say more, but I will refrain given the appeal process and the ongoing investigation," she said.
Priestman who has served as Canada’s coach since 2020 will be replaced by assistant coach Andy Spence.
Last week, Canada Soccer CEO & general secretary Kevin Blue revealed that the use of drone to spy on rivals was also attempted by the men’s team during the recently concluded Copa América.