Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue said the association is investigating what appears to be a “systematic ethical lapse” when it comes to the use of drones to spy on other teams.
Canada Soccer has suspended three coaches, including head coach Bev Priestman, for allegedly attempting to gain an unfair advantage over their opening group stage opponent, New Zealand.
In a press conference with international reporters, Blue said the federation was attempting to address the issue, which he declared “unacceptable,” directly and was conducting an independent investigation. He added that the allegations could go back several years “well before” the current coaches of both the men’s and women’s teams.
Blue says the Paris Olympics players “were not involved in unethical behavior” and that, to his knowledge, they did not see drone footage from unaccredited analyst Joseph Lombardi.
For this reason, and because of the federation’s swift action in suspending the coaches, Blue stressed that a points deduction would be “unfair” to the players.
Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue addresses ‘systematic’ use of drones to spy on teams
Canadian women’s coach Bev Priestman and two other coaches have been suspended from the Olympic Games after using a drone to spy on their opening group stage opponents, New Zealand.
The use of drones to spy on the opponent is apparently so systematic that there are even reports of use by the men’s team.
Blue admitted to reporters that there was an attempt to use drones by a member of the men’s team during this summer’s Copa America. Canada finished fourth in the tournament, their first appearance in South America’s continental cup competition.
Blue said Canada men’s national team coach Jesse Marsh learned of the drone use “after the fact” and “immediately and forcefully” condemned it to his coaching staff.
The CEO added that the facts of the Copa America and the Olympic Games were “significantly different” when it came to “potential impact on competitive integrity”.
Andy Spence, who took over from Priestman as Olympic coach, has not been given the interim title and no final decisions have been made about the coaching staff. Blue believes Spence was unaware of the drone issue.
When asked by the CBC if Blue was considering withdrawing the team from the Olympics, the CEO responded, “I have thought deeply about the implications of this issue for the Canadian delegation. I have thought deeply and, quite frankly, I am very disappointed and frustrated about the distraction that it has caused.
“But I have not considered withdrawing the team, especially since we believe we have dealt with the situation quickly and thoroughly. It would be at the expense of our players who have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to become Olympians and who themselves have not been guilty of unethical behavior.
Canada defeated New Zealand 2-1 in their opening group stage match on Thursday afternoon
“And I am not considering us withdrawing on the basis that we support our players as Olympians and their right to be here and to compete.”
Canada has already played their opening match in the group stage against New Zealand, where they won 2-1 against the Football Ferns.
New Zealand asked the International Olympic Committee prior to the competition not to award points to Canada as a result of the use of the drone.
FIFA confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that proceedings have been opened against Priestman, Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander.
A report was made of a ‘possible breach of Article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 6.1 of the Regulations of the Olympic Football Tournaments of the XXXIII Olympiad Paris 2024 – Final, following incidents involving an unaccredited member of the Canadian delegation to the Olympic Women’s Football Tournament, who is believed to have used a drone to film the New Zealand women’s football team.’