Canadian women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman apologizes for drone-spying scandal

Women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman apologized Sunday to Canadians after a drone-spying scandal rocked the country and pushed her team to the verge of elimination at the Paris Olympics.

Priestman was banned from participating in soccer for one year under FIFA sanctions handed down Saturday, and will be subject to a Canada Soccer investigation.

“To Canada, I am sorry. 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 hardworking players, to help them defy all odds and show their true character,” her statement read in part.

FIFA, soccer’s governing body, docked Canada’s Olympic women’s soccer squad six points on Saturday for fair-play violations stemming from the spying scandal that has dominated news coverage of the Canadian Olympic team at Paris 2024.

FIFA also levelled a fine of approximately $313,000 against the association.

Earlier Sunday, Carla Qualtrough, Canada’s minister of sport, said that the federal government will withhold some of Canada Soccer’s funding following FIFA sanctions.

“There is a deeply concerning pattern of behaviour at Canada Soccer,” Qualtrough said in a statement. “This issue has caused significant distraction and embarrassment for Team Canada and all Canadians here in Paris and at home.”

Canada Soccer officials said Saturday they would appeal the decision to take away the team’s points at the Olympic tournament.

Canada to appeal FIFA’s points deduction at women’s Olympic soccer tournament

The government funding, which Qualtrough said was tied to the suspended officials, will be withheld for the duration of the sanction.

In a statement to The Globe and Mail, a spokesperson from the minister’s office said the allocation of money being withheld would be for salaries, and that it would not have an impact on overall financing for the women’s team.

“Sport Canada is in the process of determining the exact amount of funding to be withheld. It will be specific to suspended Canada Soccer officials and not impact the overall available funding to the women’s program.”

Earlier in the week, the program became enveloped in a scandal related to a staff member using a drone to spy on an opponent’s closed practices.

The staffer, Joseph Lombardi, was arrested by French police for flying an unmanned aircraft in a prohibited area. He admitted guilt and agreed to an eight-month suspended sentence. Priestman denied involvement, but voluntarily stepped aside for the tournament opener, a 2-1 victory over New Zealand.

After receiving new information on Friday, Canada Soccer suspended Priestman pending an investigation.

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Canada faces France on Sunday in its second group-stage game. It will be extremely difficult, but not statistically impossible, for the gold-medal-defending Canadians to advance to the next round.

Eight teams will advance beyond the group stage of the tournament. The top two from each of the three groups will move on, plus the top two third-place finishers.

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