Soccer has had its fair share of scandals over the years, but the 2024 Paris Olympics brought a new shock unlike any other...and it’s prompting serious questions about the reigning Olympic champs. Coaches have been dismissed. Decisions are being questioned. And, above all else, what’s happening goes against the very essence of the Olympic Games themselves.
Before the first kickoff at the 2024 Paris Olympics, soccer fans heard news that two members of the Canadian National Women’s Soccer Team were sent home due to a cheating scandal. But it was only after the team’s first game against New Zealand that it was revealed just how much deeper the whole situation goes. Curious about what, exactly, happened? Read on below to find out more about the Team Canada 2024 Olympic soccer drone scandal.
Monday, July 22:
French authorities in Saint-Étienne are notified by the New Zealand women’s soccer team staff about a drone that is spotted at one of their closed-door practices. An investigation is immediately launched to find out who is responsible.
Months prior, the Olympic schedule determined New Zealand would face off against Canada first at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Wednesday, July 24:
The Canadian Olympic Committee releases a statement with news about the drone investigation, confirming one of Canada’s staff members is believed to have been behind it following an investigation.
“The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair play and we are shocked and disappointed. We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected, and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee,” they say in a press release. They also note they will be working with the IOC, Paris 2024, Canada Soccer, and FIFA on next steps.
Later the same day, the COC releases another statement saying Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, and Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach to whom Mr. Lombardi reports, have been removed and sent home. Head coach Bev Priestman also decides to step down from coaching the match against New Zealand.
“On behalf of our entire team, I first and foremost want to apologize to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and to the players on Team Canada. This does not represent the values that our team stands for,” Priestman says in a statement. “I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program. Accordingly, to emphasize our team’s commitment to integrity, I have decided to voluntarily withdraw from coaching the match on Thursday. In the spirit of accountability, I do this with the interests of both teams in mind and to ensure everyone feels that the sportsmanship of this game is upheld.”
Canada Soccer also reveals they will be conducting their own independent investigation.
“As an immediate next step, Canada Soccer will proceed with an independent external review. This review will address the circumstances of the current matter, and more broadly, will seek to understand the historical culture of competitive ethics within all of our programs. The outcome of this review will be shared publicly and corrective actions, if necessary, will be taken,” they say in a press release. “We will maintain prompt and transparent communication on this matter.”
Thursday, July 25:
Team Canada and Team New Zealand face off in their first match of the Olympic Games. Canada wins the game 2-1 with assistant coach Andy Spence leading the team.
Several hours later, Canada’s The Sports Network releases a bombshell article with two sources who anonymously claim Team Canada has been using drones for years...including at the 2020 Olympics, where the Canadian Women's National Soccer Team won the gold medal.
The sources made the following unverified claims: (1) A previous contractor for the team was caught once before in 2022 using a drone to spy on Panama during qualifiers for the 2023 Women's World Cup; (2) Several personnel were told spying on other teams would be part of their jobs; And (3) Other alleged incidents included spying against the United States in 2019, Honduras in 2022, and Japan during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Friday, July 26:
After the TSN report creates major waves in the sport, Canada Soccer announces that head coach Bev Priestman is officially suspended. The Canadian Olympic Committee also removes her from the position with Andy Spence taking over the role for the remainder of the Olympic tournament.
“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 has 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,” the Canadian Olympic Committee says in a statement.
Canada Soccer also hosts a press conference featuring its CEO Kevin Blue and several members of the staff. “I can tell you that this group of players at the Olympic Games right now has not engaged in any unethical behavior,” he says, according to a recording from CBC.
CBC news reporter Devin Heroux posts a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, featuring Blue at the press conference, where he asks FIFA “to take that into consideration if contemplating any further sanctions. Specifically, we do not feel that a deduction of points in this tournament would be fair to our players, particularly in light of the significant and immediate steps we’ve taken to address the situation.”
Former player Stephanie Labbé reacts to the situation on X, tweeting: “If anyone wants to speak about pks. i studied HARD the night before every match. Watched video of players taking pks in national team and club games. Made my own educated guesses based on that info. NO DRONE FOOTAGE was watched. Do not confuse great goalkeeping with cheating.”
(While Labbé didn’t confirm which Games, Team Canada defeated Sweden at the Gold Medal match in the 2020 Olympics, where Labbé was goalkeeper.)
Saturday, July 27:
FIFA announced that the Canadian Women’s National Team would receive a six point penalty in the tournament, bringing them to last place in their group. Canada Soccer has been fined CHF 200,000 or approximately $225,000 USD.
Meanwhile, Beverly Priestman, Joseph Lombardi, and Jasmine Mander are also suspended from all football-related activity for one year.
Sunday, July 28:
Team Canada faced off against France in a tough battle where both teams were up one point each by the end of the match.
With 13 minutes added as stoppage time, both teams had another chance to add more to the sheet. Canada scored in the 11th minute to bring them up 2-1. France could not tie it up at the end and Canada won the match bringing them to an even zero points and leaving them in third place in their group.
Monday, July 29:
The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced that they received an appeal from Canada Soccer and the Canadian Olympic Committee to “seek a decision from the CAS ad hoc Division either cancelling or reducing the points deduction. The Applicants do not request relief with respect to the one-year suspensions imposed on the officials. The Panel of arbitrators is being constituted.”
According to the court, “A hearing with the parties is likely to take place on 30 July 2024 and the final decision should be issued at around midday on 31 July 2024.”
Wednesday, July 31:
Before the team’s match against Colombia, their third game in the tournament, the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced that it had dismissed their appeal. Due to the time-sensitive nature, they are set to release a full report in a later date.
If Team Canada defeats Colombia in their final match, there still is a chance they can advance to the knockout stage.
