Former USMNT coaching candidate Jesse Marsch addresses Canada drone scandal ahead of USA friendly

Canada men’s national team head coach Jesse Marsch broke his silence on the drone scandal that has rocked the nation’s soccer scene, describing it as a “sad” situation for both the men’s and women’s national teams.

Allegations that Canadian national teams use drones to spy on their opponents came to light on July 24 when women’s national team assistant Joseph Lombardi was arrested by French authorities for flying a drone over New Zealand’s training session before the two teams were scheduled to play at the Olympics. FIFA later punished Canada with a six-point ban during the group stage, as well as a year-long ban for Lombardi, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and head coach Bev Priestman.

Marsch, who was hired as the men’s national team coach in May, said he found out about the scandal the same way the public did. He was taking time off after Canada’s fourth-place finish at the Copa America and traveling to Italy, where he lived before taking the job.

“I didn’t know a lot about what was going on and how it was going and all these different things,” he said on the latest episode of Call It What You Want, a CBS Sports Golazo Network podcast he previously co-hosted. “I was kind of getting information the same way that you guys were because when all that was happening, we had finished Copa and I’d been in Canada for different things and then I got back to Italy so I was getting information sort of the same way.”

He also said he was beginning to get to know Priestman and vouched for her character despite the suspension.

“I know Bev,” Marsh said. “She’s a really good person. I think she’s a good coach. We were starting to create a team together, her and I, and getting to know each other.”

The American said he has worked with drones since beginning work with Canada’s men’s national team, though strictly to record his own side’s training sessions.

“I’ve never used drones for training,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve ever used the drone for training. It’s a good way to film training and look at things.”

It is unclear how often Canada’s national teams have used drones to spy, though reports suggest that opponents have noticed the tactic as early as 2019 and did so during the women’s team’s gold medal run at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when Priestman was the coach. New Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue, who was hired in February, admitted in the wake of Lombardi’s arrest that Marsch was made aware of an attempt to use a drone to spy during the Copa America. Per The Athletic, Marsch immediately denounced the move.

U.S. Soccer also reportedly knew about Canada’s attempts to spy over the years but opted not to report them because the two federations were working together to secure the hosting rights to the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico, per ESPN. Former women’s and men’s national team coach John Herdman has been identified as a “common denominator” and has reportedly continued the practice since moving on to MLS’ Toronto FC, according to the report. A drone was spotted above Forge FC training for a Canadian Championship tie between the Canadian Premier League side and Toronto on July 10, per The Athletic.

Marsch said an investigation is ongoing and that a report will soon clear things up.

“The investigation will come out soon, the report will come out soon and then I think things will be clear for everybody on what’s been going on,” he said.

Canada’s men’s team return to action on Sept. 7, when they face the U.S. men’s national team at Kansas City’s Children Mercy’s Park.