Canada dealing with increased accusations of using drones as scandal grows

At the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, a complaint surfaced against the Canadian women’s national team for allegedly filming an opponent’s training session, raising concerns about ethical practices within the Canadian soccer program. In a related incident, coach Bev Priestman was banned by FIFA for a year, and Canada Soccer was fined $226,000 while losing six points in the Olympics women’s soccer tournament due to a drone spying scandal at the Olympics.
Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue disclosed that there was a suspected drone incident involving the men’s national team at the recent Copa America tournament, although he mentioned that it did not impact the tournament’s integrity. The federation is investigating the matter which has stirred questions about the behavior of both men’s and women’s national teams.
Despite reaching the semifinals of the Copa America tournament, the men’s team faced allegations of possible drone usage. Canadian officials are looking into the incidents of surveillance not only at the Copa America but also at the Tokyo Games, including instances reported by The Sports Network in Canada.
As a consequence of the recent controversies, the Canadian federation, currently preparing to co-host the 2026 Men’s World Cup, is facing scrutiny, with potential sanctions likely to be addressed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s special Olympic court in Paris. The appeal process is underway regarding the points deduction imposed on Canada’s women’s team in the ongoing Olympic tournament.
Interim coach Andy Spence is leading the Canadian women’s team in their matches amid the scandal, emphasizing the importance of supporting the players despite the distractions. Former national team player Diana Matheson expressed solidarity with the players and urged them to remain focused on their performance.
The scandal unfolded when New Zealand raised concerns about drones flying over their practice sessions before the Olympics, leading to the removal of Canadian team staff members and subsequent disciplinary actions. FIFA is conducting an investigation, and Canada Soccer has initiated an independent review following the controversy surrounding the national teams.