Canada’s women’s national football team has a tough time advancing to the quarter-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Although they won their first match, Canada is minus three points because of the spy drone scandal that came to light a few days ago. Canada used illegal drones in other teams’ training sessions for several years. The Canadian federation fired the coach but FIFA was much tougher. It decided to deduct six points at Paris 2024, ban Bev Priestman and two members of the coaching staff for one year and fine the federation 200,000 Swiss francs.

The former Canadian national coach has reacted to all this in a statement. Priestman apologised to her players and to Canada, ‘I am devastated for the players. I want to apologise from the bottom of my heart for the impact this has had on all of them. As a leader on the field, I take my responsibility and will cooperate in any way I can with the investigation.

For Canada, Priestman also wanted to say a few words, ‘Sorry, Canada. You have been my home and a country I have fallen in love with. I hope you will continue to support these talented players, this team has helped the country reach the pinnacle of women’s football with the gold medal at the Games. The FIFA investigation is ongoing and is open to appeal, to which the coach is likely to adhere.