Canadian Women's Soccer Coach Bev Priestman Suspended Amid Drone Espionage Scandal

In a stunning development, Bev Priestman, the head coach of the Canada women's soccer team, has been suspended for the remainder of the Paris Olympics following a scandal involving the use of a drone for spying purposes. This unprecedented move will have significant impacts on the team’s morale and performance in the ongoing Games.

Canada Soccer delivered the announcement, explaining that following their victory over New Zealand, evidence surfaced about previous instances of using drones for spying by Canadian soccer teams. This has not been a one-off incident but a practice spanning years, including during Canada’s triumphant gold medal campaign at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

The scandal broke out after Joseph Lombardi, a Canada Soccer staff member, was detained in France for flying a drone over New Zealand's team practices ahead of their matchup in the Games. Findings from his hotel room unveiled footage obtained from spying on closed sessions, a strategy admitted to aiding in learning opponents' tactics.

The severity of this espionage was underscored by Lombardi accepting an eight-month suspended sentence for flying an unmanned aircraft over a prohibited area. The incident initiated an extensive investigation, resulting in the withdrawal of Lombardi and Jasmine Mander, assistant coach and Lombardi's superior, from the Canadian delegation due to their involvement.

While initially imposing a single-game suspension on herself, Priestman now faces an extended absence, acknowledging her role in the oversight of the program's conduct, albeit claiming unawareness of the specific drone operations.

In the wake of this incident, Canada Soccer has launched an independent external review to investigate the entire debacle in detail. The findings of this review could lead to further repercussions and shape the future of the involved individuals and practices within Canadian soccer.

The Canadian women’s soccer team, which secured a gold medal in Tokyo just last year, now enters a period of uncertainty. Assistant coach Andy Spence steps up as interim coach and faces the challenge to maintain team focus and cohesion. Canada is slated to face France next in what is now sure to be a closely watched game, both on and off the field.