“Heartbroken for the players”: Suspended football coach Priestman apologizes and takes responsibility

Canadian women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman said she would take responsibility and cooperate with the investigation into a spying scandal involving the women’s soccer team at the Paris Olympics.

In a statement released by her lawyers on Sunday, Preistman made her first public comments on the scandal.

“It breaks my heart for the players and I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for the impact this situation has had on all of them,” Priestman said.

The statement was sent a few hours before Canada’s match against hosts France in Saint-Etienne.

“I know how hard they have worked after a very difficult 2023 and that they are a group of people who care deeply about sportsmanship and integrity. As the leader of the team on the field, I want to take responsibility and intend to cooperate fully with the investigation.”

Priestman and two assistants were suspended for a year by FIFA after an analyst was caught using a drone to spy on the New Zealand team’s training sessions before the start of the Olympic Games.

The assistant coach he reported to, and eventually Pristerman, were all removed from the Olympic team and sent home.

The sanctions also included a six-point penalty – the equivalent of two wins in the tournament – ​​for the Canadian defending champions in Paris and a fine of around $313,000 against Canada Soccer.

Government withholds funding

The previous Sunday, Canadian Sports Minister Carla Qualtrough announced that the government would withhold some of the funding for Canada Soccer as a result of the scandal.

During a press conference outside Geoffroy Guichard Stadium before Canada’s match against France, Qualtrough was asked if she accepted Priestman’s apology.

“I certainly do that on behalf of Canadians,” she said. “But there still have to be consequences for what happened.”

WATCH L Canadian women’s soccer team gets points deduction, Pristin banned by FIFA:

FIFA removes points deduction for Canada’s women’s football team and suspends coach

FIFA has deducted six points from Canada’s Olympic women’s soccer team and banned three coaches for a year, including head coach Bev Priestman. The decision came after some of the team’s employees were accused of using a drone to spy on other teams at the Olympics and other events.

Qualtrough said that because the women’s program receives funding from Sport Canada, funds “related to suspended Canada Soccer officials” would be withheld for the duration of their FIFA sanction.

A spokesperson for her office confirmed that the funds in question were earmarked for salaries, but that Sport Canada is still determining exactly how much to withhold. The funds would not affect the overall funds available for the women’s program, they said.

“Deeply worrying” behavior pattern

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

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

“We must and will get to the bottom of this,” Qualtrough said.

She further elaborated on these thoughts during her media appearance at the venue.

Priestman, 38, said Canada’s successes – including gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics – are legitimate.

“This program and this team have allowed our country to reach the pinnacle of women’s soccer and winning the gold medal was due to sheer determination and courage, despite reports to the contrary,” said Priestman, who coached the Canadian team in Tokyo. “I fought with every fiber of my being to improve this program and much of it will never be known or understood.”

“I wish I could say more, but given the appeals process and ongoing investigations, I will refrain from saying so at this time.”

WATCH HERE | According to the Canadian Olympic Committee, Priestman was likely aware of the spying:

Football coach Bev Priestman was likely aware of the spying, says Canadian Olympic Committee

David Shoemaker, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee, says the head coach of the national women’s soccer team likely knew drones were being used to spy on another team’s training sessions in France. Kevin Blue, CEO and general secretary of Canada Soccer, says there are suspicions that “this type of behavior” is “systematic.”

Earlier this week, Canada Soccer announced it would conduct an independent external investigation. CEO Kevin Blue, who has only been in the job for a few months, said he was looking into a possible “systemic ethical lapse.”

The Canadian Olympic Committee said it was “exploring the possibility of an appeal” regarding the six-point deduction.

“To be honest, I think it’s a punishment for the athletes and the team,” Qualtrough said. “Because if you’re honest, if you want to remove the perception of an unfair advantage that came with the actions that were taken, you could have done that with a three-point shot.”

Messages left with the COC regarding the appeal plans were not immediately returned. The point deduction did not mean Canada’s elimination from the tournament, but it did hamper the country’s chances of qualifying for the knockout rounds.

A message left with the Court of Arbitration for Sport was not immediately answered.

Former Canadian goalkeeper and Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Labbe took to social media on Sunday to express her feelings.

“Angry. Pissed off. Sad. Heartbroken,” she posted. “These players did not deserve this. They were let down by so many of their own people, not just the NT (national team) staff. I stand with these players and every player who has ever been a part of this program and worked so hard to build it, not tear it down.”

Canada opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over New Zealand. The Group A final will take place on Wednesday in Nice against Colombia.

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