Nearly two months after an independent, outside investigation into the Paris Olympics drone surveillance scandal was announced, the Canadian Soccer Federation, like all other organizations, is still waiting for the results.
Canada’s women’s team coach Bev Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi have been banned from FIFA for a year after the New Zealand Olympic Committee complained to the International Olympic Committee’s integrity department that a drone had been flown during a pre-tournament practice session.
Mander and Lombardi immediately returned home. Priestman initially stepped down as opening day coach, but left the team amid accusations of a broader spy culture.
FIFA subsequently banned all three from “taking part in any football-related activity for one year”.
The Canadian Soccer Association announced plans for an independent investigation on July 24, which it said would “attempt to address the current circumstances of the matter and, more broadly, to understand the historical culture of competitive ethics within all of our programs.”
“The findings of this review will be shared publicly and corrective action taken where necessary,” he added.
More than eight weeks later, Canada Soccer is still waiting for information to be shared. Priestman has been suspended but continues to be paid.
“Bev Priestman will remain a paid employee of the Canadian Soccer Association pending the outcome of the review,” the Canadian Soccer Association said in a statement to The Canadian Press.
On July 31, Canada Soccer announced that it had hired Sonia Regenbogen of the law firm Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark to conduct a review “focusing on the actions taken by the Canadian Soccer team in relation to the incidents that occurred at the Olympic Games, and all subsequent related matters of a historical nature.”
There is little to report.
The article called Regenbogen “Canada’s leading expert in conducting independent workplace investigations.”
“We will maintain prompt and transparent communication on this matter,” the Canadian Soccer Association said at the time.
We’ve reached out to the Canadian Soccer Association for an update on the status of the review, but have not received a response.
“We understand there is interest in how the investigation progresses, and we look forward to its conclusions and recommendations. As this is an independent, external investigation, we have no control over the timeline of the investigation.”
However, he said he would “commit” to reviewing Regenbogen.
The investigation could shed light on past cases of cheating. Former Canadian coach John Herdman has been charged with spying on a rival team at the Canadian Soccer Association’s ground zero, according to a ruling by the FIFA Appeals Committee.
In a July ruling dismissing Canada’s appeal against FIFA’s sanctions against the women’s national soccer team, the Canadian Soccer Association said it had singled out Herdman.
According to the FIFA document, the Canadian Soccer Association said, “While Canada is investigating the history of this issue, we suspect that the practice of using drones dates back to when John Herdman was head coach of the women’s national team. In other words, the practice was started by one man, John Herdman, and continued by Bev Priestman.”
Herdman, who has said he will cooperate with the review, declined to comment publicly on the allegations, citing “the integrity of the investigation.”
Herdman adamantly denied any wrongdoing
But he repeatedly said his records at the Olympics and World Cup were clean.
“I can once again state unequivocally that no such activity was carried out at the FIFA World Cup, the peak event, the Olympics or the Youth World Cup,” he said in July. “And I have nothing more to say on that matter.”
Currently the head coach of Toronto FC, Herdman has led Canada’s women’s team to bronze medals in 2012 and 2016, as well as World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015. He also led Canada’s men’s team to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Toronto GM Jason Hernandez was noncommittal when asked about the spy investigation this week, saying he was “withholding any emotion, thought or resolution until a decision is made and everything comes out.”
Former Canada captain Atiba Hutchinson was also reluctant to comment on the issue, but said such scrutiny was “probably” happening across football.
“There was a lot of people watching and spying on us during my playing days,” said Hutchinson, who played for clubs in Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Turkey and earned 104 caps for Canada.
“I think countries and clubs find ways to get a little bit of an advantage out of certain things,” he added.
The sixth-placed Canadian women’s team will return to action on Oct. 25 against third-placed Spain at the Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo.
Canada Soccer has yet to announce who will coach the team. Head coach Andy Spence led the team at the Olympics without Priestman.
Canada qualified for the Olympic knockout stage despite being deducted six points for its spying scandal and the Canadian Soccer Association being fined 200,000 Swiss francs (US$319,655).
Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinals by fourth-place Germany on penalties.
