Suspended Canadian women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman has apologized to her players amid the team’s drone surveillance scandal.
Before Canada’s opening game at the Olympics against New Zealand, it was revealed that the team had used drones to spy on their opponents, and that assistant coach Jasmine Mander and “uncredited” analyst Joseph Lombardi were initially sent home before Priestman joined them.
All three players have been banned by FIFA for a year and are unable to engage in any football-related activity, and Priestman said she was “absolutely heartbroken” for her players after the team was docked six points at the Olympics.
“…I would like to apologize from the bottom of my heart for the impact this situation has had on all of them,” he said in a statement through his lawyers.
“I know how hard they have worked after a very difficult year in 2023, and that they are a group of people who care deeply about sportsmanship and integrity. As the team leader on the field, I want to take responsibility and I intend to fully cooperate with the investigation.”
Suspended Canadian women’s national team coach Bev Priestman has apologized to her players
Canada beat New Zealand 2-1 in their first group stage match on Thursday afternoon.
“To Canada, I am sorry,” the English coach continued. “You have been my home and a country I have fallen in love with. I hope you will continue to support these extremely talented and hard-working players, to help them defy all odds and show their true character.”
Priestman remained adamant that spying played no role in the team’s gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, after TSN reported that Canada’s men’s and women’s teams have been trying to film their opponents’ training sessions “for years,” including in 2021 in Tokyo.
“This program and this team have allowed this country to reach the pinnacle of women’s soccer, and their gold medal win was achieved with great courage and determination, despite reports to the contrary,” Priestman said.
“I have fought with all my might to improve this program, much of which will never be known or understood. I wish I could say more, but I will refrain at this time, given the appeal process and ongoing investigation.”
The coach concluded her statement by saying she would be “cheering on from afar” for Canada.
Andy Spence has taken over Olympic coaching duties from Priestman.
Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue said in a statement Saturday that the federation was “exploring options to appeal (the point deduction) on the basis that it is excessively punitive towards our Women’s National Team players, who were not involved in any unethical behaviour.”
Canadian Soccer Federation CEO Kevin Blue addresses ‘systemic’ use of drones to spy on teams
At a news conference on Friday, Blue added that players at the Paris Olympics had not seen any drone footage of Lombardi.
Blue also admitted to reporters that there was an attempted use of a drone by someone on the men’s team during this summer’s Copa America, in which Canada finished fourth.
Blue said Canadian men’s national team head coach Jesse Marsch learned of the drone use “after the fact” and “immediately and strongly” reported it to his coaching staff.
The Canadian women’s team will play France on Sunday.