Apparently maples don’t fall if they get too far from the sap.
In the aftermath of the Canadian women’s soccer team’s drone scandal — which led to head coach Bev Priestman being fired on Thursday after team officials used a drone to film a New Zealand practice — light is being shone on broader practices for both the men’s and women’s teams in the country.
Canada’s men’s soccer team also tried using drones to spy on opponents during the Copa America tournament this month, according to Kevin Blue, CEO of the Canada Soccer Association.
“Members of the men’s national team experimented with using a drone during the Copa America,” The Athletic’s Joshua Cloake said on CBS Sports Golazo on Friday, adding that the action “had no effect on the outcome of the competition.”
2024 Paris Olympics
Cloke said Blue called the problem “systemic” and said the recent violations were “not isolated incidents.”
He added that Jesse Marsh, who took over as head coach of Canada’s men’s national team in May, only found out about the tactic being attempted after it had actually happened.
The Canadian men’s team lost to Argentina in the Copa America semi-finals on July 9.
In a statement on Thursday, Blue said the shocking developments, which followed Priestman’s suspension from the Paris Games, “will continue until the recently announced independent external investigation is completed.”
Cloke said it was unlikely Priestman would be fired immediately, as the Olympics officially open on Friday.
“My sense is that he [Blue] “Kevin Blue wants to focus on the players right now,” Broeck said. “Terminating Bev Priestman’s contract would just create more confusion and I don’t think that’s what Kevin Blue wants right now.”
The original dam broke when two separate incidents of drones flying over New Zealand training sessions led to analysts and assistant coaches being sent home.
TSN reported: The use of drones dates back many years, including when the Canadian women’s team won a gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the company announced Thursday.
Canada, under Priestman’s direction, won its opening Olympic match on Thursday, beating New Zealand 2-1.
However, the Canadian men’s team failed to qualify for the Olympics.
The Canadian women’s team, embroiled in controversy, will face France on Sunday in their second pool match.
