Canada Women's Soccer Coach Fired Over Olympic Drone Spying Scandal
Canada Women's Soccer Coach Fired Over Olympic Drone Spying Scandal
The Facts
Canada Soccer terminated women's head coach Bev Priestman and two staff members following an independent investigation that confirmed their involvement in using drones to spy on opponents during the 2024 Paris Olympics.Canada Soccer terminated women's head coach Bev Priestman and two staff members following an independent investigation that confirmed their involvement in using drones to spy on opponents, including at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The scandal emerged when New Zealand defender Rebekah Stott spotted a drone during training in Saint-Etienne, prompting FIFA to fine Canada Soccer $228K.The scandal emerged when New Zealand defender Rebekah Stott spotted a drone during training in Saint-Etienne, France, prompting FIFA to fine Canada Soccer $228K.
The Spin
Using a drone to surveil another team during a closed practice is cheating and undermines the integrity of the game. The drone incident represents a past pattern of unacceptable culture and insufficient oversight that requires urgent reform within the national teams, necessitating immediate leadership changes to restore integrity to the program.
Priestman's sacking is unfair, as the review found no evidence that Canadian players had viewed footage from the drone. The investigation's limited scope in examining past tournaments and administrators shows that Priestman has been made a scapegoat to cover up for a systematic, years-long spying operation that potentially compromised the integrity of Canada's previous achievements.
