FIFA documents reveal Canada’s soccer team coach’s level of complicity in spying scandal

According to a damning report from FIFA’s Appeals Committee, documents show that Bev Priestman and current Toronto FC manager John Herdman were at the heart of the spying scandal.
On Wednesday, the game’s international governing body revealed the evidence that led to the sanctions against the women’s squad and its head coach.
The FIFA document shows that Canada Soccer suspects’ spying practice began with Herdman, who served as head coach of the women’s national team before Priestman took over.
The documents also show an email exchange between Priestman and a performance analyst, who objected to the practice.
During the correspondence, Priestman responded by explaining the practice of drone spying as being “widespread” and pointed to the men’s national team, alleging they do it as well.
Meanwhile, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed Canada Soccer’s appeal against the punishment imposed on the Canadian women’s team at the Paris Olympics for the organization’s drone-spying.
Priestman and two other employees were handed one-year suspensions over the scandal, and Canada Soccer maintains that the federation did not facilitate the spying.

[@lucmc9477]

GIVE IT A REST. ALREADY. I don't condone what the coach did but you cover this like if the coaches stole documents from a foreign power. GIVE IT A REST. and GET A LIFE.

[@dejanradojevic888]

If this really happened, take the 2026 WC away from Canada. Then we will see changes.

[@safetynudge9026]

However I think that Bev Priestman sincerely loves the team and wants it to do well. She should accept the blame and the suspension. Serve the time out and come back with a bang, if they will have her back. After all it was such a silly thing to carry out. Spy on the NZ Team, which they could thrash with their hands tied around their back ?

[@ALEBRIJESISSIWIT]

No integrity !
for sure this was a pattern of wrong doing and for sure the players were aware and happily getting feedback from their spy cheater drone team

[@MisconceivedPancit]

So if, and, I could be mistaken....if it seems, that the root cause of the incident, seems to be the team's head coach's fault....and they, solely have a history of corruption well....hmmm....
It seems like another example of using women to shield a problem.

[@TT-fq7pl]

What I mean is that I'm not sure if she still IS the head coach (one of the assistants who used the drone is also a woman).

[@Statsy10]

Although I firmly believe this spying practice was started by a man (John Herdman), you really can't say that women didn't play a serious part in this.

[@RetiredEE]

All sexes can share in the nightmarish scandal that has befouled and defiled the once proud, honest, clear and virtuous Maple Leaf🍁.
Canadians shuffle along aimlessly, eyes downcast, hoping against hope that they will somehow awaken, and this global arena of shame will be just a bad dream...alas 😥

[@Statsy10]

@@MisconceivedPancit Did someone delete my first comment? Was the problem the name I mentioned... or does someone have an issue with my pushing back against the idea that women are getting wrongly blamed for this? There was honestly no reason to bring gender into this conversation at all.

[@MisconceivedPancit]

@@Statsy10 I'm not aware of comments being deleted. I would have embraced all comments....I honestly don't even remember seeing any comments by you. Have a blessed day.

[@sean367]

Take it up with the coaches and leave the players alone.Everybody's been piling on for fun .Go Girls

[@TT-fq7pl]

Not for fun. Out of a sense of fairness and decency. It's pretty hard to believe that in this "tight knit family" (that's how they described themselves pre-tournament), one group of relatives didn't know what the other was doing. And if there's even a 5% chance that they did, that's enough to justify disqualification.

[@MisconceivedPancit]

Definitely!

[@sean367]

​@@TT-fq7pl ok Karen 😢

[@sean367]

​@@Joe-by8jh Joe blow

[@TT-fq7pl]

@@sean367 Are you even aware of the irony in your choice of insult? Yeah, I doubt it. Hilarious!

[@RetiredEE]

This is Canada's darkest hour. 😢

[@user-bq4tc6zc3f]

Over reaction much

[@sean367]

Wow ,you must be fun at party's

[@TT-fq7pl]

@@sean367 the plural of the word is parties

[@sean367]

​@@TT-fq7plwow,you have alot of time on your hands to be petty.sad

[@TT-fq7pl]

@@sean367 Still missing out on all the irony, eh? It just keeps getting funnier. I love it!

[@degbry]

Classic cheaters

[@user-bq4tc6zc3f]

Angry canadian

[@sean367]

​@user-bq4tc6zc3f just an angry Karen 😠

[@degbry]

@@sean367=cheating angry Karen.

[@TT-fq7pl]

@@sean367 Loving the irony here!!