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The independent report into the Olympic drone spying scandal involving members of the Canadian women's soccer team coaching staff leaves as many questions as answers.
But it is clear that the “practice of surreptitiously monitoring opponents” predated this summer's Olympic Games in Paris.
As a result, Canada Soccer says women's head coach Bev Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joey Lombardi – all of whom are serving a one-year FIFA ban for their role in the scandal – will not be back.
“The three individuals currently suspended by FIFA will not return,” Canada Soccer said in a news release. “The search for a new head coach for the women's national team will begin soon.”
Lombardi resigned shortly after the games. Canada Soccer says it is currently determining the exact nature of Priestman and Mander's departures. Both were still paid pending the assessment.
“The independent investigator's findings show that the incident itself was a symptom of a difficult and unacceptable past culture within the national teams,” said Kevin Blue, CEO and general secretary of Canada Soccer, and president and board chairman Peter Augruso in a separate statement. posted on social media.
“It's very simple: although the national team players performed admirably, the cultural norms and management of the programs dating back several years fell short of expectations.”
The investigation is incomplete as former coach John Herdman has yet to testify, with Canada Soccer saying it has “initiated proceedings in relation to Mr. Herdman under the Disciplinary Code.”
“Possible violations of Canada Soccer's Code of Conduct and Ethics by the former head coach of the men's national team have been identified,” Canada Soccer said in its press release.
Blue and Augruso added: “Now that this investigation has concluded, we are in the process of taking disciplinary action. These actions will be private.”
Under Canada Soccer's disciplinary code, the sanctions available before a disciplinary hearing panel range from a written warning to a lifetime ban.
In the meantime, the governing body says change is coming in the wake of the independent report by Sonia Regenbogen of law firm Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark.
Canada Soccer says it is implementing changes to the organization, including mandatory reporting of unethical behavior, ethics training for coaches and staff, and the creation of a new independent audit and compliance committee.
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Those who want the full story of what happened in Paris will be disappointed. Canada Soccer has not released the full report, which reportedly runs to about 400 pages. And the 36-point summary it made public contains about 135 redactions.
Canada Soccer said it supported Regenbogen's decision that while the investigation would not accept evidence from anonymous sources, those who did participate would not have their identities revealed.
It said it did this “to strike the best possible balance between transparently disclosing as much information as possible and our legal and ethical responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of personal identities, especially in the context of a personnel investigation.”
“The conclusions and findings are consistent and unflattering regardless of the editorial,” Blue said in an interview.
In addition to the summary report, Canada Soccer issued a press release, two background documents and a blog post from the CEO and president.
The report states that there was internal resistance to the use of drones in Paris.
“Some assistant coaches and staff felt uncomfortable spying on opponents, but did not feel they could challenge the head coach's authority. Two coaches of the women's national team directed acts of inappropriate supervision ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris,” Canada Soccer said in its press release.
Blue said on a personal level he felt “disappointment and frustration, as I think a lot of people feel” about the scandal.
Herdman's lack of comment is perhaps unsurprising given information in the FIFA appeals committee ruling on the scandal that suggested the use of drones began under him.
Herdman took over the women's team in 2011 and moved to the Canadian men in January 2018. He left Canada Soccer last August to take over Toronto FC.
Canada Soccer said Herdman could not be interviewed by Regenbogen due to scheduling issues. There was more than three months to comply, as Regenbogen was assigned to write the review on July 30. She presented it to Canada Soccer on November 5.
Herdman, who had said he would cooperate with the review, has declined to comment publicly on the drone scandal, citing the “integrity of the investigation.”
But he has reiterated that his record was clean at the Olympics and World Cups.
“I can once again clarify that these activities were not undertaken during a FIFA World Cup, premier event, Olympic Games or Youth World Cup,” he said in July. “And I have nothing further to say on this matter.”
Toronto FC released a brief statement on Herdman's behalf.
“(Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment) today received Canada Soccer's public report outlining the findings of the external investigation into scouting practices and possible involvement of current members of Toronto FC's staff,” the statement said. “The organization will thoroughly review and process the report's findings in the coming days. Both MLSE and Toronto FC will reserve any further comment until the review process is complete.”
An email to Priestman's attorney did not immediately yield a response.
The report clears Blue and Augruso of any knowledge or involvement in drone use. And it says the Canadian players did not see the footage secretly obtained at the Olympics.
In June, another drone incident occurred during the Copa America, resulting in a Canadian men's team member having his ID revoked and Canada Soccer being fined. During the subsequent disciplinary process by tournament organizer CONMEBOL, Canada Soccer argued that the drone was filming an empty field “for the purpose of a motivational and promotional video and was not inappropriately filming a training session.”
“I think the use of a drone during the Copa America tournament was very different from the drone incident at the Paris Olympics,” Regenbogen wrote.
The report also states that when current men's coach Jesse Marsch became aware of it, he told staff that drone footage for “legitimate purposes, such as filming the men's team's own practice sessions” must be approved in advance.
The Paris scandal unfolded when the New Zealand Olympic Committee complained to the IOC's integrity unit that drones had been flown over a pair of pre-tournament practice sessions ahead of the opening match against Canada.
Mander and Lombardi were immediately sent home. Priestman initially withdrew from coaching the opening match, but was subsequently also at home with Canada Soccer after more information came to light.
The case was referred to the FIFA Appeals Committee, which banned Priestman and the two staffers from participating in football-related activities for a period of one year “for offensive conduct and violation of the principles of fair play.”
Canada received six points at the Olympic tournament and Canada Soccer was fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($316,470).
Canada Soccer announced the independent review following that ruling, saying it would “continue to communicate regularly on this matter and take swift, decisive steps to restore public confidence.”
Priestman, who took over the Canadian women in November 2020, signed a contract extension through the 2027 Women's World Cup in January after previously working on a rolling contract. Canada Soccer praised her at the time for her play: a crucial role in the strategic and tactical development of the women's program.”
Blue said Canada Soccer will share the assessment material on drone use with FIFA.
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