DroneGate – Women's Soccer Express

DroneGate: Canada Soccer releases findings, Bev Priestman is officially out as WNT head coach, plus new reporting from Radio-Canada

On Tuesday, November 12th, Canada Soccer released a redacted “summary” version of the report of an independent investigation into the drone spying incidents at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The summary report’s findings are fairly limited, which is positive news for the Canada Women’s National Team. In addition to the 2024 Summer Olympics incidents, the investigation also determined that “surreptitious surveillance” also occurred at two “tournaments” between June 2022 and March 2024 (¶21 to ¶27), but not at the COVID-delayed 2020 Summer Olympics (¶28). However, nowhere in the published report does it directly address the allegation of spying at the Tokyo Olympics that was reported by TSN’s Rick Westhead back in July.

The summary report also stated that the players of the Canada WNT did not watch the footage obtained at the 2024 Summer Olympics, but that is based only on the statement of one person (¶20). Notably, the summary report does not mention whether players of the Canada WNT had seen earlier drone footage, nor does it discuss if any players were aware of the drone spying.

With the release of the summary report, Canada Soccer also confirmed that Bev Priestman is no longer the head coach of the Canada WNT:

The three individuals currently suspended by FIFA will not be returning. The search for a new head coach for the Women’s National Team will commence shortly.

Additional confidential HR measures are being evaluated and will be taken in response to the findings of the investigation.

The “three individuals” are head coach Bev Priestman, performance analyst Joseph Lombardi (the operator of the drone at the Paris Olympics), and assistant coach Jasmine Mander (who was Lombardi’s direct report).

On Monday, the day before the summary report was released, Radio-Canada, the French-language division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, published an article based on interviews with about 20 persons, including at least one Canada WNT player: “Details emerge of Canada Soccer’s ‘obsessed’ culture of drone spying”.

Note: All “¶” citations refer to numbered paragraphs in the summary report.

DroneGate: Canada’s 6 Point Deduction Upheld by CAS, FIFA Appeal Decision Published

On Wednesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport issued a media release (PDF) stating that the appeal by Canada Soccer and the Canadian Olympic Committee “has been dismissed”.

Also on Wednesday, FIFA uploaded the 25-page decision of the FIFA Appeal Committee (PDF)* which outlines the evidence and reasoning of the Committee for its 6 points deduction against the Canadian WNT along with the other punishments, including the one year suspension of head coach Bev Priestman.

*While the cover letter of the document has a “28 July 2024” date, the “modified date” timestamp on the PDF file is “7/31/24, 7:00:32 AM”.

The FIFA decision includes evidence that has not been previously reported, including a March 2024 email from Bev Priestman that discusses “spying” against opponents with a Canada Soccer official (who is/was apparently involved in human resources).

DroneGate Update: Canada Appeals Directly to the Court of Arbitration for Sport

On Monday, the Court of Arbitation for Sport issued a media release announcing that the Canada Soccer and the Canadian Olympic Committee had filed an appeal of the Canadian WNT’s 6 point deduction for the group stage of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Canada is seeking either a cancellation or at least a reduction of the points deduction.

A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 30th, with a final decision expected “around midday” Paris time on Wednesday, July 31st.

DroneGate: Canada Hit With 6 Point Deduction, Bev Priestman Suspended by FIFA, More Spying Allegations

On Saturday, FIFA announced that that the Canadian Women’s National Team has been penalized with a 6 point deduction from their group standings at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In the same announcement, Canada Soccer was also fined CHF 200,000 (about $226,000 USD) and three members of the WNT’s staff were suspended from soccer-related activities for one year: Head coach Bev Priestman, performance analyst Joseph Lombardi, and assistant coach Jasmine Mander.

Also, TSN’s Rick Westhead has an article out that details additional allegations of spying by Canada’s WNT against the United States Women’s National Team and other women’s teams.

DroneGate: FIFA is on the Case, Bev Priestman Sent Home, and Evidence of ‘Previous Drone Use’

Wednesday evening, TSN’s senior correspondent, Rick Westhead, published an eye-opening article detailing past drone spying by the staff of the Canadian Women’s National Team that dates back to at least the (2021) Tokyo Summer Olympics, where Canada won gold.

The allegations in the article indicate that the drone spying against New Zealand could be a “tip of the iceberg” situation, and greatly increases the probability that Canada Soccer, Canada’s WNT, and some of the WNT’s coaching and support staff could be facing significant sanctions in the days and months to come.

Other news from Wednesday include the suspension of head coach Bev Priestman as well as an official statement from FIFA that its Disciplinary Committee has opened official investigations.

2024 Olympics: DroneGate! Canada Caught Spying on New Zealand Practices

On Tuesday, July 23rd, news broke that an unnamed “staff member” for the Canadian Women’s National Team was caught using a camera drone to surveil a closed-door practice of the New Zealand Women’s National Team.

A day later, several more facts have come to light about this incident, but a number of key questions remain unanswered.