Canada drone scandal: How did it happen, questions over Herdman’s role, what must change
4 months ago

Canada drone scandal: How did it happen, questions over Herdman’s role, what must change

New York Times  

In the aftermath of the drone scandal that rocked Canada’s women’s national team at the Paris Olympics, Canadian soccer has been left with many unanswered questions. That brings John Herdman — Canada women’s national team coach from 2011 to 2018, then the men’s coach until 2023 and now Toronto FC head coach — and his role into focus. One more lingering question that the review could attempt to answer is how potentially “systemic” drone usage became prevalent within Canada Soccer, particularly on the men’s side, and what should change to ensure it does not happen again. What happens as a result of Canada Soccer’s independent review, and whether drone usage and spying at the club and national level can be eradicated will go a long way to regaining that trust.

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History of this topic

Canada Soccer fires Priestman as women’s football coach after Olympic drone scandal review
1 month, 1 week ago

Canada Soccer fires Priestman as women’s football coach after Olympic drone scandal review

The Hindu  

Bev Priestman will not return as head coach of the Canadian women’s football team following an independent report into the use of drones to spy on an opponent at this year’s Paris Olympics, Canada Soccer said on Tuesday. Canada Soccer released only a redacted copy of the summary report but acknowledged the Paris drone incident was a symptom of a …

Bev Priestman: Canada women’s soccer head coach won’t return to role after drone controversy
1 month, 1 week ago

Bev Priestman: Canada women’s soccer head coach won’t return to role after drone controversy

CNN  

CNN — Canada Soccer says it will soon start its search for a new head coach for the women’s national team after announcing that Bev Priestman won’t return to her role amid the drone scandal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The search for a new head coach for the Women’s National Team will commence shortly,” governing body Canada Soccer said …

Bev Priestman fired as Canada women’s soccer coach after review of Olympic drone scandal
1 month, 1 week ago

Bev Priestman fired as Canada women’s soccer coach after review of Olympic drone scandal

Associated Press  

Canada women’s coach Bev Priestman, suspended following a drone surveillance scandal at the Paris Olympics, was fired Tuesday following an independent review. The review found that no drones were used in Japan, but that two national team coaches engaged in improper surveillance “predating the 2024 Paris Olympics.” “The findings of the independent investigator reveal that the drone incident in Paris …

Canada Women’s coaches ‘directed, approved and condoned’ using drones to spy on opponents, report finds
1 month, 1 week ago

Canada Women’s coaches ‘directed, approved and condoned’ using drones to spy on opponents, report finds

New York Times  

Members of Canada Women’s coaching team were asked by senior coaching staff to fly drones over a New Zealand practice session and obtain “surreptitious film footage” before the Paris Olympics on July 20 and 22, 2024, according to an independent investigation. Canada Soccer said Bev Priestman, who was sent home from the Olympics and then suspended by world governing body …

Paris Olympics drone inquiry shows unacceptable pattern: Canada Soccer
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Paris Olympics drone inquiry shows unacceptable pattern: Canada Soccer

The Hindu  

An independent review of drone use by a staff member of Canada’s women’s team at this year’s Paris Olympics showed a “pattern of unacceptable culture” and lack of oversight, Canada Soccer said on Friday. Canada’s women’s team was engulfed in a spying scandal at the Games after New Zealand’s team said its training session was disrupted by a drone flown …

Canada Soccer Association says Olympics drone-spying scandal was not an isolated misstep
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Canada Soccer Association says Olympics drone-spying scandal was not an isolated misstep

Associated Press  

TORONTO — The Canadian Soccer Association says an independent review confirmed the Paris Olympics drone-spying scandal was not an isolated misstep. Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue said in a statement Friday the spying “was a symptom of a past pattern of an unacceptable culture and insufficient oversight within the national teams.” Canada Soccer announced July 31 it had retained Sonia …

Canada women’s soccer team perseveres despite turbulence at the Olympics. Quarterfinals are next
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Canada women’s soccer team perseveres despite turbulence at the Olympics. Quarterfinals are next

Associated Press  

PARIS — Even Canada’s players seemed surprised they reached the knockout round of the women’s soccer tournament at the Paris Olympics. “It’s definitely the most unique group stage that I have ever played in, but we have just handled it really well,” captain Jessie Fleming said. “It was a tough situation, and I am proud of the team to get …

Spiraling drone-spying scandal at Olympics risks damage to Canadian soccer ahead of 2026 World Cup
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Spiraling drone-spying scandal at Olympics risks damage to Canadian soccer ahead of 2026 World Cup

Associated Press  

PARIS — Canadian soccer officials admitted in evidence to FIFA that spying on opponents was routinely done, for the men’s national team as well as the women’s team which has been punished for using drones at the Paris Olympics. Spying was something the Canada women’s team “has ‘always done’ and it was the ‘difference between winning and losing,’” FIFA appeals …

Drone-spying scandal: Canada challenges 6-points deduction by FIFA at Paris Olympics court
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Drone-spying scandal: Canada challenges 6-points deduction by FIFA at Paris Olympics court

Associated Press  

PARIS — Canada appealed against being docked six points by FIFA in a drone-spying scandal at the Paris Olympics women’s soccer tournament, and a verdict is expected hours before the team plays its last group-stage game Wednesday. FIFA punished Olympic defending champion Canada on Saturday — and banned coach Bev Priestman and two assistant coaches for one year — for …

Banned coach Bev Priestman ‘heartbroken’ and apologizes in Canada drone-spying scandal at Olympics
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Banned coach Bev Priestman ‘heartbroken’ and apologizes in Canada drone-spying scandal at Olympics

Associated Press  

MARSEILLE, France — Embattled Canada women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman apologized to her players Sunday and pledged to cooperate with an investigation into the drone-spying scandal at the Paris Olympics. There was little sympathy from Germany coach Horst Hrubesch, who said Canada’s behavior was “stupidity.” Canada was looking into an appeal, but said they suspected a “systemic ethical shortcoming.” Also …

Canada's Olympic spying scandal casts pall over its rise in soccer
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Canada's Olympic spying scandal casts pall over its rise in soccer

LA Times  

So now we know what helped fuel Canadian soccer’s rise from pretender to global contender. Last week, the women’s national team was caught spying on New Zealand in advance of the Olympic opener for both countries, and the damage that has done to Canadian soccer two years before the World Cup returns to North America could be devastating. Herdman had …

Drone-spying scandal: FIFA strip Canada of 6 points in Olympic women's football, bans coaches for one year
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Drone-spying scandal: FIFA strip Canada of 6 points in Olympic women's football, bans coaches for one year

Hindustan Times  

FIFA deducted six points from Canada in the Paris Olympics women’s soccer tournament and banned three coaches for one year each on Saturday in a drone spying scandal. FIFA deducted six points from Canada in the Paris Olympics women’s football tournament and banned three coaches, including Bev Priestman, for one year each on Saturday The stunning swath of punishments include …

Drone-spying scandal: FIFA strips Canada of 6 points in Olympic women’s soccer, bans coaches 1 year
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Drone-spying scandal: FIFA strips Canada of 6 points in Olympic women’s soccer, bans coaches 1 year

Associated Press  

PARIS — FIFA docked six points from Canada in the Paris Olympics women’s soccer tournament and banned three coaches for one year each on Saturday in a drone-spying scandal. “In support of the athletes, together with Canada Soccer, we are exploring rights of appeal related to the six-point deduction at this Olympic tournament.” Head coach Bev Priestman, who led Canada …

Canada women’s soccer coach suspended over drone scandal, which may be part of ‘systemic’ issues
4 months, 4 weeks ago

Canada women’s soccer coach suspended over drone scandal, which may be part of ‘systemic’ issues

Associated Press  

Canada women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman was suspended and removed from the team for the Paris Olympics in the wake of a drone-spying scandal Friday, and the head of Canada Soccer said he was investigating a potential “systemic ethical shortcoming.” Kevin Blue, Canada Soccer’s CEO and general secretary, emphasized that the players were not involved in any unethical behavior at …

Canada coach John Herdman says governing body must quickly address its financial troubles
1 year, 5 months ago

Canada coach John Herdman says governing body must quickly address its financial troubles

The Hindu  

Men’s national team coach John Herdman says the Canadian football association must quickly address its financial troubles. We shouldn’t be going backwards after a World Cup.” Canada’s men reached the World Cup last year for the first time since 1986. After a loss to the United States in this month’s CONCACAF Nations League final, Herdman said his team needs more …

Canada’s coach calls for more resources ahead of 2026 World Cup
1 year, 6 months ago

Canada’s coach calls for more resources ahead of 2026 World Cup

Al Jazeera  

John Herdman says Canada should aim to win next World Cup, which it will co-host, but team is ‘suffering financially’. The Canada men’s national football team coach John Herdman has called for more resources from the country’s Soccer Association to raise the level of his squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the North American …

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