TORONTO — The Canadian Soccer Association has revealed that an independent review has determined that the drone-spying incident related to the Paris Olympics was not just a one-time error.

In a statement released on Friday, Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue remarked that the spying incident highlighted a recurring issue of an unhealthy culture and lack of oversight within the national teams.

On July 31, Canada Soccer announced that it had engaged Sonia Regenbogen from the law firm Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark to investigate the Olympic incident alongside any associated issues. The CSA stated that it is currently examining the findings of the report, with Blue indicating that an announcement of conclusions and proposed actions is expected within a week.

The coaching staff for Canada’s women’s team, including head coach Bev Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander, and analyst Joseph Lombardi, are serving one-year suspensions handed down by FIFA. This action came after the New Zealand Olympic Committee lodged a formal complaint with the integrity unit of the IOC, claiming that drones were utilized during two practice sessions prior to the tournament.

As a consequence of the incident, Canada suffered a six-point deduction in the group phase and incurred a fine of 200,000 Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately $228,000 USD. Despite the controversy and trying to defend its Olympic title from 2021, Canada made it to the group stage but was eliminated in the quarterfinals after losing to Germany in a penalty shootout.

Peter Augruso, chair of the CSA board, acknowledged the need for further action and emphasized that while changes are necessary, they will require time to implement effectively.