The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) has suspended Canadian girls’s nationwide soccer workforce coach Bev Priestman from the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Committee took the daring step after unearthing “further info” concerning the drone spying scandal.
Priestman, who helped Canada to the gold medal on the 2020 Olympic Video games, has been below investigation after her employees was caught utilizing a drone to spy on New Zealand’s coaching session. Because of the investigation, Priestman voluntarily sat out Canada’s 2024 Paris Olympics opener in opposition to the Ferns on Thursday, July 25. Her absence, nevertheless, didn’t damage Canada, as they bagged a stable 2-1 victory, due to targets from Cloe Lacasse and Evelyne Viens.
Bev Priestman Will Not Coach Canada on the 2024 Paris Olympics
Having missed the primary recreation, Priestman hoped to return for the upcoming matches on the Video games. Nevertheless, the Canadian Olympic Committee has confirmed she would haven’t any such luck. In a press release, Canada Soccer CEO & basic secretary Kevin Blue stated (by way of CBS Sports activities):
“Over the previous 24 hours, further info has come to our consideration concerning earlier drone use in opposition to opponents, predating the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games.
“In mild of those new revelations, Canada Soccer has made the choice to droop girls’s nationwide soccer workforce head coach Bev Priestman for the rest of the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games, and till the completion of our not too long ago introduced unbiased exterior evaluation.”
In her absence, assistant coach Andy Spence will lead Les Rouges for the rest of the Video games.
Particulars On Drone Spying Scandal
Per a report from NPR, the scandal started earlier this week when New Zealand accused employees from Canada’s workforce of utilizing drones to spy on closed-door coaching classes. On the eve of the sport, COC confirmed they’d eliminated analyst Joseph Lombardi and an assistant coach Jasmine Mander from the workforce.
Additionally they reportedly confirmed that Lombardi was working the drone, resulting in his eight-month jail sentence and a effective of $49,000 for illegally flying it. Lombardi, who despatched his drone on two missions — as soon as on July 20 and once more on July 22 — admitted the drone footage and pictures “had helped him study the ways of the opposing workforce.”
The prosecutor’s workplace additionally questioned Mander however later exonerated her after confirming she had no information of the acts. Canada Soccer is conducting an exterior evaluation of the matter whereas the governing physique FIFA is pursuing disciplinary proceedings.
