Priestman apologizes, takes ‘accountability’ as feds withhold funding over drone-spying scandal

Canadian women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman said she is taking accountability and co-operating with an investigation into a spying scandal involving the women’s soccer team that has blown up at the Paris Games.

Preistman offered her first public comments on the scandal Sunday in a statement issued by her lawyers.

She says she is “heartbroken” for the players on the team and apologized to team members and Canadians.

Priestman and two assistants were suspended by FIFA for a year as a part of a punishment for a developing situation that started when an analyst was caught using a drone to spy on New Zealand team practices before the start of Olympic competition.

The sanctions also included a six-point penalty — the equivalent of two wins in the Olympic tournament — for the defending champion Canadians in Paris and a fine of around $313,000 levied against Canada Soccer.

Earlier Sunday, Canadian sports minister Carla Qualtrough announced that the government is withholding some of Canada Soccer’s funding “relating to suspended Canada Soccer officials” for the duration of their FIFA sanction. 

A spokesperson for Qualtrough’s office confirmed the funding in question is allocated for salaries, but that Sport Canada is still determining exactly how much should be withheld. The funding will not impact the overall available funding to the women’s program, they said. 

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

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

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

Earlier this week, Canada Soccer said it will conduct an independent external review. Chief executive officer Kevin Blue, who has been on the job for just a few months, said that he’s investigating a potential “systemic ethical shortcoming.” 

The Canadian Olympic Committee said it was “exploring rights of appeal” regarding the six-point deduction. Messages left with the COC and the Court of Arbitration for Sport weren’t immediately returned.

The point penalty did not eliminate Canada from the tournament but made its chances of qualifying for the knockout stage much more difficult.

Former Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe — who helped anchor the team to Olympic gold three years ago — took to social media earlier Sunday to voice her feelings. 

“Furious. Fuming. Sad. Heartbroken,” she posted. “These players don’t deserve this. They’ve been let down by so many of their own people, not just NT (national team) staff. Standing with these players and every player that has ever been part of this program, and worked so hard to build it, not tear it down.”

The eighth-ranked Canadians were scheduled to play second-ranked host France in Saint-Etienne later Sunday. 

Canada opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over New Zealand. Canada’s Group A finale will be played Wednesday against Colombia in Nice. 

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