Canadian football players speak out against coach

The fallout from spy-gate at Paris continues with Canadian players taking aim at their former coach.

The drone drama unfolded ahead of the opening match of the Olympic women’s football.

Canada found themselves at the centre of the scandal when their analyst was caught flying a drone to spy on New Zealand’s team practice.

Coach Bev Priestman, as well as Canada soccer staff members Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander, were sent home as a result.

Priestman was banned for a year by FIFA from any soccer-related activities.

Just as the dust was settling, two players have kicked it up again with a scathing assessment of their former coach.

Speaking on the Footy Prime podcast, forward Evelyne Viens and defender Gabby Carle did not mince words.

“She told us she was going to take all responsibility. In my opinion, she didn’t. I think she kind of went around (the situation) and I don’t think that was okay at the end of the day,” Carle said.

Carle said they were led to believe the situation was under control by Priestman.

“Then the very next day, we see the press release, and we realise, ‘oh, accountability is not being taken’ and then, I mean, it just kept getting worse and worse and worse.”

The defending champions reached the quarter-finals in Paris, despite a six-point deduction.

Andy Spence took over the coaching role from Priestman for the rest of the games, and both players said they immediately felt more supported than under the previous regime.

“I think I had to learn to see my own value, because I didn’t necessarily feel value no matter what I did. Once I was on that field and she was gone, I realised just how much of an impact she had on me. It felt like I was always second-guessing my decisions,” Carle said.

Viens concurred.

“He was just, like, go do it. So I think for me, was a little relief in this way that the coach my positive aspect on the field. I believe in me now.”

Carle alleges Priestman created an environment where players were not comfortable making mistakes.

“If I messed one thing up, I knew this was going to be brought up, and I knew it was going to be held against me. During these Olympics, was the first time I felt like I could just go out there and be myself.”