Paris Olympic Games 2024: Canada coach Bev Priestman sent home after drone allegations

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Evening Standard

·26 July 2024

Paris Olympic Games 2024: Canada coach Bev Priestman sent home after drone allegations

Two members of the staff within Canadian set-up had already been sent home

The head coach of the Canada women’s national football team has been flown home from the Olympic Games after allegations a drone was used to spy on the New Zealand team’s practice

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Two members of staff within the Canadian set-up had already been sent home and now coach Bev Priestman has followed suit.

As a result, the Canadian Olympic Committee instead said the team would be guided by assistant coach Andy Spence.

Priestman had already removed herself from the sidelines for the team’s opening game against New Zealand, which Canada went on to win 2-1

Having denied any wrongdoing, she was expected to resume that role for the team’s second group game before COC said new information had come to light.

Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue said: “Over the past 24 hours, additional information has come to our attention regarding previous drone use against opponents predating the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“In light of these new revelations, Canada Soccer made the decision to suspend women’s national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman for the remainder of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and until the completion of our recently announced independent external review.”