Bev Priestman fired as Canada women’s soccer coach after review of Olympic drone scandal
Associated PressNOV 26 2024
The scandal emerged when New Zealand defender Rebekah Stott spotted a drone during training in Saint-Etienne, leading to the arrest of Canadian analyst Joseph Lombardi and subsequent FIFA sanctions including a $226,000 fine.
The investigation revealed a systematic pattern of surveillance predating the Paris Olympics, though no evidence was found of drone usage during Canada's gold-medal run at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
FIFA imposed a one-year suspension on Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander, and analyst Joseph Lombardi, while also deducting six points from Canada's Olympic standings.
The spying operation was a systematic, years-long practice that tainted multiple competitions and potentially compromised the integrity of Canada's previous achievements, including their historic Olympic gold medal, despite the investigation's limited scope in examining past tournaments.