AAP Soccer

Olympics drone-spying scandal not isolated misstep: CSA

By AAP Newswire

Nov 9, 2024

Canada women's coach Beverly Priestman is serving a one-year FIFA ban over the drone saga. -AP

The Canadian Soccer Association says an independent review has confirmed the Paris Olympics drone-spying scandal was not an isolated misstep.

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Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue said in a statement on Friday the spying "was a symptom of a past pattern of an unacceptable culture and insufficient oversight within the national teams."

Canada Soccer announced on July 31 Sonia Regenbogen of the law firm of Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark had been retained to review the Olympic incident and any related matters.

CSA is reviewing the report, with Blue adding he expects to release conclusions and future steps within a week.

Canada women's coach Bev Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi are all serving one-year FIFA suspensions after New Zealand's Olympic Committee filed a complaint with the IOC's integrity unit, alleging drones were flown over a pair of pre-tournament practice sessions.

Canada were penalised six points in the group phase and fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($A346,000).

Trying to defend their 2021 Olympic title, Canada advanced to the group stage and lost to Germany on penalty kicks in the quarter-finals.

"We know that more needs to be done and change takes time," CSA board chair Peter Augruso said in a statement.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press