The coach for Canada‘s Olympic women’s soccer team has been suspended over alleged drone use to spy on opponents. On Thursday, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced that Bev Priestman will no longer lead the team at the games, following a FIFA and IOC investigation that tied her to drone use “predating” the Olympics.
“Over the past 24 hours, additional information has come to our attention regarding previous drone use against opponents, predating the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” read a statement from Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue. “In light of these new revelations, Canada Soccer has made the decision to suspend Women’s National Team Head Coach, Bev Priestman, for the remainder of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”
Priestman’s suspension will last until the completion of an independent investigation from Canada’s soccer governing board, Blue explained. Assistant coach Andy Spence will take on interim coaching duties for the remainder of the games.
The decision to remove Priestman comes days after a non-accredited member of the Canada Soccer team was detained detained by French authorities following an incident in Saint-Étienne. The discovery of the drone usage led to the removal of two staff members from the team. On Wednesday, Priestman denied her involvement in the incident.
Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said a “non-accredited member of the Canada Soccer support team” had been detained by French authorities in Saint-Étienne, a city 250 miles south of Paris, for improperly using a drone.
“Irrespective of the details, I’m ultimately accountable for this team,” the coach said following a team practice, per The Guardian. “By no means did I direct the individuals.”
“I’m still learning the details and obviously this is all unfolding,” she added. “But again, I think the important thing right now is to look forward, put the actions in place and take the sanctions.”
The COC had released a statement Wednesday that Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, and Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach to whom Lombardi allegedly reported, were “sent home immediately.”
Team Canada had been notified of two separate drone incidents: one on July 22 in Saint-Étienne, and another on July 19 at New Zealand’s practice. Canada defeated New Zealand 2-1 on Thursday during the team’s Paris Olympic debut, although Priestman was not at the game.
Canada is next set to play France, the Games’ host, on July 28 as part of the competition’s Group A, which also includes New Zealand and Colombia. Canada is the reigning gold medal winners.