The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) has suspended Canadian ladies’s nationwide soccer crew coach Bev Priestman from the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Committee took the daring step after unearthing “extra data” concerning the drone spying scandal.
Priestman, who helped Canada to the gold medal on the 2020 Olympic Video games, has been underneath investigation after her employees was caught utilizing a drone to spy on New Zealand’s coaching session. As a result of investigation, Priestman voluntarily sat out Canada’s 2024 Paris Olympics opener towards the Ferns on Thursday, July 25. Her absence, nevertheless, didn’t damage Canada, as they bagged a stable 2-1 victory, due to objectives 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. Nonetheless, the Canadian Olympic Committee has confirmed she would haven’t any such luck. In a press release, Canada Soccer CEO & common secretary Kevin Blue mentioned (by way of CBS Sports activities):
“Over the previous 24 hours, extra data has come to our consideration concerning earlier drone use towards opponents, predating the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games.
“In mild of those new revelations, Canada Soccer has made the choice to droop ladies’s nationwide soccer crew head coach Bev Priestman for the rest of the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games, and till the completion of our lately introduced impartial 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 crew of utilizing drones to spy on closed-door coaching classes. On the eve of the sport, COC confirmed that they had eliminated analyst Joseph Lombardi and an assistant coach Jasmine Mander from the crew.
In addition they reportedly confirmed that Lombardi was working the drone, resulting in his eight-month jail sentence and a advantageous 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 crew.”
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.
