Spying at Canada Soccer | FIFA documents point the finger at John Herdman

A decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the Canada Soccer case indicates that former Canadian head coach John Herdman was behind the spying on other teams.

In its report, the CAS did indeed mention that Canada Soccer had pointed the finger at Herdman on July 27.

“Canada is investigating this story, but we suspect that the use of drones dates back to John Herman’s time as head coach of the women’s national team,” the FIFA document reads. “In other words, it was a practice that was initiated by one person – John Herdman – and continued with Bev Priestman.

“This practice was not facilitated by the Federation. The new Canada Soccer administration supports a full and independent investigation into this matter and has already taken steps to ensure this practice does not occur again.”

Priestman, who was sent home in light of the scandal, was one of Herdman’s deputies at the time.

Herdman took over the women’s team in 2011 and then led the men’s team starting in January 2018. He left Canada Soccer last August to join Toronto FC in MLS.

The FIFA document, which was sent to The Canadian Press, was published in its entirety on the federation’s website Tuesday. Herdman’s name, in particular, was removed from the document Wednesday.

Herdman spoke to reporters with an annoyed look on his face Wednesday. He declined to comment on the specifics of the report, citing “the integrity of the investigation.”

He added that he would speak “on all these issues at the right time. I think this is just not the right time.”

But he reiterated what he said last Friday, that his record was impeccable at the Olympics and the World Cup.

“I can once again clarify that [l’espionnage avec un drone] has never been played at a FIFA World Cup or an Olympic Games,” he said. “And I have nothing else to say about it.”

Herdman led the Canadian women to two bronze medals at the 2012 and 2016 Games. He also led the Canadians at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Canada Soccer declined to comment on the redacted FIFA documents.

“The independent investigation is ongoing and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further. When we have more to share, we will do so publicly,” Paulo Senra, Canada Soccer’s manager of communications, said in an emailed statement.

On Wednesday, CAS also rejected Canada’s appeal of a six-point penalty against the women’s team, as emails released earlier this year by soccer’s governing body appear to show a Canada Soccer analyst resisted a request from the team’s head coach to engage in “spying.”

CAS said its three-member panel rejected an appeal by the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer to overturn a sanction imposed in a drone spying scandal involving the team’s coaching staff ahead of Canada’s opening match against New Zealand.

Herdman said he was “devastated” for the women’s team.

The Canadians, ranked eighth, faced Colombia, ranked 22nd.^ein their final group stage match on Wednesday and they desperately needed a win. The team won 1-0 and booked their place in a quarter-final against Germany on Saturday.

Herdman could face sanctions if his involvement in past espionage activities is proven.

The CAS decision states that its decision concerned only the “drone incidents” that occurred during the Olympic soccer tournament.

“The President understands that the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) is conducting its own in-depth investigation into the espionage,” the judgment states. “In this regard, the President expects the CSA to provide FIFA with the results of the investigation so that FIFA can assess and decide whether further action by FIFA authorities is necessary and appropriate.”

Canada Soccer was fined more than $300,000 and three team staff members – including Priestman – involved in the drone incident were suspended for one year.