The Canadian Soccer Association says an independent review found the Paris Olympics drone surveillance scandal was not an isolated mistake.
Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue said in a statement Friday that the spying was “a symptom of the unacceptable culture and lack of oversight within the national team in the past.”
Canada Soccer announced July 31 that it has hired Sonia Regenbogen of the Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark law firm to review the Olympic case and related matters. The CSA said it was reviewing the report and Blue said it expected to release its conclusions and next steps within a week.
Canada’s women’s national team coach Bev Priestman, head coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi said the New Zealand Olympic Committee had filed a complaint with the IOC’s integrity unit over two drone flights during pre-tournament practice sessions. After filing a complaint, he was banned from FIFA for one year.
Canada received six demerit points and a fine of 200,000 Swiss francs (US$228,000) in the group stage. Looking to defend their 2021 Olympic title, Canada advanced to the group stage but lost to Germany in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals.
“We know more needs to be done and change takes time,” Peter Augruso, CSA board chairman, said in a statement.
