Canadian Olympic Committee CEO David Shoemaker says new information from Soccer Canada shows suspended women's coach Bev Priestman was likely aware of the use of drones that caused a scandal at the Paris Olympics.
The COC fired Priestman on Thursday following his suspension by the Canadian Soccer Federation. The decision followed complaints from New Zealand that Canada flew drones over two of its training sessions before the two teams met in their Olympic opener, which Canada won 2-1.
Assistant coach Andy Spence will coach Canada for the remainder of the Games.
Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue said he would not consider withdrawing the Canadian team from the tournament.
“I am frustrated by the distraction this has created, but I have not considered pulling the team,” he said during a news conference Friday. “Primarily because we feel we have addressed the situation quickly and meaningfully… The players have not engaged in unethical behavior.”
Shoemaker also said he was comfortable with Team Canada staying in Paris to defend its Olympic gold medal amid rumors that the team should be disqualified over the scandal that has put them in an unpleasant spot.
Azul confirmed that the men's team “attempted to use drones” to gather information during the recently concluded Copa America in the United States, adding that coach Jesse Marsch subsequently reported the practice to his staff.
He said he understood this had no impact on the competitive integrity of the match, but did not offer details.
Blue said Marsch “was aware of it, at the very least, after the fact.”
Following media reports of previous use of drones by Canada's women's team, including at recent Olympics, he added that the idea that the problem could affect the team's gold in Tokyo made him feel bad.
“One of the key data was Canada Soccer's conclusion that [Priestman] “It was necessary to suspend them based on their accumulation of facts,” Shoemaker said during Canada's opening news conference on Friday.
“I have seen some of the information they have and we have gathered additional information that led me to conclude that it was highly likely that she was aware of the incidents that occurred here.”
The scandal has sparked angry calls for the Canadian team to be sent home as well.
“I feel comfortable with the team competing as it is,” Shoemaker said. “We've made decisions in relation to the maximum sanction that we have, participation on Team Canada here in Paris at the Olympic Games, that we can nominate athletes and coaches for Team Canada and we can remove them.
“If further facts and circumstances emerge, we can continue to consider taking further action as necessary. It is important to me that Canadians' questions are answered, so we will continue to do everything we can to address them.”
Canadian sports network TSN reported that the use of drones predates the 2024 Olympics, and two sources with first-hand knowledge told TSN that the team had filmed other opponents' closed-door training sessions, including during the Tokyo Olympic tournament.
Canada Soccer CEO Blue said Thursday night after the match that new information had come to light.
“It gave me reason to think more about the possibility that this behavior was systemic,” Blue said.
“Now there appears to be information that could cast a shadow over that Olympic performance in Tokyo. It makes me sick to my stomach to think that there could be something that would cast doubt on one of my favorite Olympic moments in history: that women's team winning that gold medal against all odds, under those COVID restrictions,” Shoemaker said.
“We encourage and I know that the Canadian Soccer Federation will investigate all of this thoroughly, including Tokyo, [and] “We will not only cooperate fully, but we will collaborate even more to ensure that they get to the bottom of this matter.”
Canada defeated Sweden on penalties to take Olympic gold in Tokyo.
“There is no protest planned and we are otherwise passing on the opportunity to make any statement on the matter,” said Swedish Football Association spokesman Fredrik Madenstam.
Canadian officials said the issue was an opportunity to reinforce their message of fair play.
“While I don't like the discredit that's already been brought on, we need to do the right thing,” Shoemaker said. “We've been talking for years about the importance of winning well, and when we've been given a limited opportunity as far as the football team is concerned to send that message, that winning well is the only way, we need to send that message.”
FIFA and the International Olympic Committee are investigating the incident. The Canadian Soccer Federation said it will conduct an internal investigation.
