(Paris) It seemed like only a matter of time. Finally, at 1:24 a.m. Paris time on Thursday night, the Canadian Olympic Committee made official the departure of Bev Priestman, head coach of the women’s soccer team. A decision that follows a TSN investigation showing the widespread use of drones to spy on opposing teams.
“Over the past 24 hours, we have received reports that drones have already been used against opposing teams prior to the Paris Olympics,” said Kevin Blue, President and CEO of Soccer Canada, in a statement.
“In light of these new revelations, Soccer Canada has made the decision to suspend […] Bev Priestman for the remainder of the Paris Olympics and until the conclusion of the independent investigation.”
Recall that earlier this week, the reigning Olympic champions were plunged into the heart of a controversy. A drone controlled by members of the Canadian team was used as a means of spying during two training sessions of the New Zealand team, the first team to face Canada in the tournament. As a result, assistant Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi were sent home.
For his part, Priestman voluntarily withdrew from the team’s first match on Thursday, a 2-1 victory for the Canadian team.
On Wednesday, COC CEO David Shoemaker said Priestman was “neither aware nor involved” in the scandal, so there would be no further consequences. He said, however, that he was prepared to review his position “should further developments arise.”
The findings came Thursday night from a TSN investigation that showed drones were often part of Canada Soccer’s pre-match strategy, including during Canada’s gold-medal Olympic tournament in Tokyo in 2021. Two sources spoke anonymously to reporter Rick Westhead.
Assistant coach Andy Spence will take Bev Priestman’s place for the remainder of the tournament.
More details to come.