PARIS– The Canadian Olympic Committee has fired national women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman for the remainder of the Paris Games following an alleged drone spying scandal.
O COC said in a statement released on Friday that assistant coach Andy Spence would lead the gold medal defenders for the remainder of the tournament.
Canada’s camp was in disarray this week after two team employees were sent home for allegedly using a drone to spy on a training session in New Zealand.
Priestman denied any involvement but did not attend Thursday’s 2-1 win over New Zealand as FIFA – the governing body of world football – and the International Olympic Committee investigate.
Canada Soccer CEO and Secretary General Kevin Blue said in the COC statement that “additional information has come to our attention regarding the past use of drones against opponents, prior to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”
He added that Priestman has been suspended from her duties pending the end of the tournament and the completion of the organization’s independent external review.
The COC said on Wednesday that assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi were “sent home immediately” and that it accepted Priestman’s decision to step back from coaching the opening match.
Priestman held a brief media availability on Wednesday after guiding his team through an hour-long practice.
“My reaction was you felt like this show let the country down,” Priestman, 38, said. “That’s why I took proactive action to do what I felt was the right thing. Regardless of the details, ultimately I am responsible.”
Priestman agreed to a contact in in late January to coach Canada at the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Priestman was hired in November 2020 to succeed Kenneth Heiner-Møller and was working on an ongoing contract. She led Canada to a gold medal at the 2021 Olympics but was eliminated in the group stage of last year’s World Cup. She coached the team to 28 wins, nine losses and 10 draws.
Priestman spent five years with the Canadian Soccer Association in various coaching roles before returning in June 2018 to her native England, where she served as coach of the under-18 women’s national team and assistant coach of the senior women’s national team. Prior to that, she spent 4½ years as head of football development in New Zealand before leaving in June 2013.
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