Canada Soccer is facing a major scandal involving the use of drones for spying during the Copa América. This controversy has led to the dismissal of Bev Priestman, the coach of the women’s national team, during the Paris Olympics.
Kevin Blue, CEO and General Secretary of Canada Soccer, addressed the media, defending the players of both the men’s and women’s national teams. He emphasized that the players were not involved in any unethical behavior related to the drone spying incidents. “We admire deeply the will and determination of this group,” Blue stated. “The players themselves have not been involved in any unethical behavior and frankly we ask FIFA to take that into consideration.”
Blue expressed his personal disapproval of the tactics used, stating, “Behavior in the ethical grey area is completely unacceptable to Canadians… to me personally, it’s completely unacceptable as a leader.”
The scandal was revealed by Canadian media reports suggesting that both senior national teams had relied on drones for spying on their opponents for years. This tactic, while aimed at gaining a competitive edge, raises serious ethical and sportsmanship concerns.
The men’s national team recently qualified for their first World Cup in 36 years, participating in the 2022 tournament, while the women’s team achieved remarkable success by winning the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The success of these teams has now been overshadowed by these allegations, putting Canada Soccer in a difficult position as they navigate the fallout.
Blue mentioned that he had received “anecdotal feedback” regarding the use of drones during last month’s Copa América, where the men’s team had a commendable semi-final run. He revealed that Jesse Marsch, the current head coach of the men’s team, was aware of the attempted drone usage. “I am aware of an instance of attempted drone usage at the Copa América,” Blue said. “I have spoken with our current head coach about the incident after it occurred and I know he denounced it as a practice to his staff.”
As the investigation continues, Blue assured that there would be a “significant, thorough review” to address the situation comprehensively. The revelations have led to increased scrutiny from FIFA, the world governing body of football, which is now considering possible sanctions against the Canadian national teams.
In the interim, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced that assistant coach Andy Spence would take over the leadership of the women’s national team for the remainder of the Paris Games. This decision aims to ensure stability and continuity for the team amidst the ongoing investigations.
The unfolding scandal has not only raised questions about the ethical standards within Canada Soccer but also cast a shadow over the recent achievements of the national teams. As the review proceeds, the football community in Canada and around the world will be watching closely to see how the situation is resolved and what measures will be put in place to prevent such incidents in the future.