‘Heartbroken for the players’: Suspended soccer coach Priestman apologizes, accepts accountability

Canadian women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman has apologized to Canadians and players on the women’s national team and says she will co-operate with FIFA’s investigation into the drone spying scandal surrounding the team.

Preistman offered her first public comments on the scandal Sunday in a statement issued by her lawyers.

She says she is “heartbroken” for the players on the team and apologized to team members and Canadians.

“I am absolutely heartbroken for the players, and I would like to apologise from the bottom of my heart for the impact this situation has had on all of them,” Priestman said in a statement. “I know how hard they have worked following a very difficult year in 2023, and that they are a group of people who care very much about sportsmanship and integrity.

“As the leader of the team on the field, I want to take accountability, and I plan to fully cooperate with the investigation. To Canada, I am sorry. You have been my home and a country I have fallen in love with. I hope you will continue to support these extremely talented and hardworking players, to help them defy all odds and show their true character.”

Priestman and two assistants were suspended by FIFA on Saturday for a year as a part of a punishment for a developing situation that started when an analyst was caught using a drone to spy on New Zealand team practices before the start of Olympic competition.

The sanctions also included a six-point penalty — the equivalent of two wins in the Olympic tournament — for the defending champion Canadians in Paris and a fine of around $313,000 levied against Canada Soccer.

Priestman, 38, took over the Canadian women’s soccer team in 2020, winning the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo 2021.

WATCH l Canadian women’s soccer team docked points, Priestman suspended by FIFA:

Canada’s women’s soccer team docked points, coaches suspended by FIFA

FIFA says it’s deducting six points from the Canadian women’s Olympic soccer team and banning three coaches for one year, including head coach Bev Priestman. The decision comes after some staff members on the team were accused of using a drone to spy on other teams at the Olympics and other events.

Government withholding funding

Minister of Sport Carla Qualtrough said Sunday that the federal government is withholding some of Canada Soccer’s funding following the spying scandal at the Paris Games.

The assistant coach he reported the drone incident to and eventually Priestman were all kicked off the Olympic team and sent home.

Qualtrough said given that the women’s program receives funding from Sport Canada, it is withholding funds “relating to suspended Canada Soccer officials” for the duration of their FIFA sanction.

A spokesperson for Qualtrough’s office confirmed the funding in question is allocated for salaries, but that Sport Canada is still determining exactly how much should be withheld. The funding will not impact the overall available funding to the women’s program, they said.

‘Deeply concerning’ pattern of behaviour

“Using a drone to surveil another team during a closed practice is cheating,” Qualtrough said. “It is completely unfair to Canadian players and to opposing teams. It undermines the integrity of the game itself.”

She added there was a “deeply concerning” pattern of behaviour at Canada Soccer.

Earlier this week, Canada Soccer said it will conduct an independent external review. Chief executive officer Kevin Blue, who has been on the job for just a few months, said that he’s investigating a potential “systemic ethical shortcoming.”

The Canadian Olympic Committee said it was “exploring rights of appeal” regarding the six-point deduction. Messages left with the COC and the Court of Arbitration for Sport weren’t immediately returned.

The point penalty did not eliminate Canada from the tournament but made its chances of qualifying for the knockout stage much more difficult.

Former Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé — who helped anchor the team to Olympic gold three years ago — took to social media earlier Sunday to voice her feelings.

“Furious. Fuming. Sad. Heartbroken,” she posted. “These players don’t deserve this. They’ve been let down by so many of their own people, not just NT (national team) staff. Standing with these players and every player that has ever been part of this program, and worked so hard to build it, not tear it down.”

The eighth-ranked Canadians were scheduled to play second-ranked host France in Saint-Etienne later Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.

Canada opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over New Zealand. Canada’s Group A finale will be played Wednesday against Colombia in Nice.

“This issue has caused significant distraction and embarrassment for Team Canada and all Canadians here in Paris and at home,” Qualtrough said. “It is deeply regrettable.”

WATCH | Priestman likely aware of spying, Canadian Olympic Committee says: 

Soccer coach Bev Priestman likely aware of spying, Canadian Olympic Committee says

Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive officer David Shoemaker says the head coach of the national women’s soccer team was likely aware drones were used to spy on another team’s practices in France. Kevin Blue, the Canada Soccer CEO and general secretary, says there is suspicion ‘this type of behaviour’ is ‘systemic.’