Canada Soccer CEO reveals drone usage at Copa

Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue revealed that Canada used drones to attempt to spy on opponents at previous major events, including by the men’s national team at this month’s Copa America.

In a virtual media availability Friday, Blue said he received “new internal information” Thursday which led him to consider the recent spying attempts by the women’s team, which were unearthed in the past week at the Olympics, have not been isolated incidents.

“The more I learn about this specific matter, the more concerned I get about a potential long-term, deeply embedded systemic culture of this type of thing occurring, which is obviously completely unacceptable,” he said.

“I’ve been receiving a lot of anecdotal feedback about the history of the issue as it relates to both programs, as it relates to the current situation on the men’s team. I’m aware of an instance of attempted drone usage during Copa America. My current understanding is that the fact pattern of that instance is significantly different than what occurred here, especially as it relates to the potential impact on competitive integrity.”

Kevin Blue calls Canada’s women’s national team spying scandal a “systemic” ethical shortcoming, which suggests Canada Soccer is well aware of spying beyond these Olympics.

— Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) July 26, 2024

Blue went on to say Canada Soccer is doing an internal review to fully understand these situations and whether others may exist. He insisted the players themselves have not been involved in any unethical behavior, and argued that the organization’s self-punishments should be seen as sufficient.

“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,” he said.

In light of the new findings, Blue said the organization has taken steps “to ensure that our team would be able to compete in this tournament without any potential questions after the fact about about their achievement.”

One of those steps includes the removal of women’s coach Bev Priestman, who was suspended for the rest of the Olympics after the Canadian Olympic Committee learned of drone use against opponents that predates this summer’s Games.

The announcement of Priestman’s suspension came hours after the team began its Olympics with a 2-1 win over New Zealand, the team which raised the alarm about drone usage Monday after seeing an aircraft flying above their practice. Priestman did not coach against New Zealand, and two team staffers were sent home as a result.

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In regards to the men’s team’s drone usage at Copa, Blue said men’s national team coach Jesse Marsch learned about the spying attempts after the fact.

“He explained to me that he denounced it immediately and forcefully, and has communicated that to his staff, both the existing staff and staff that were from previous coaching staffs that are still with us,” Blue said Friday.

Marsch did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

John Herdman, who coached Canada’s women’s team until 2018 and the men’s team until 2023, pledged to help in any way he can with the federation’s review.

“This is the Olympic Games. It’s the biggest event on the planet,” Herdman, now coach of Major League Soccer team Toronto FC, told reporters at a news conference on Friday.

“It’s a sporting event that has massive integrity and we have to make sure that those things are upheld always. I’ve always gotten into Olympic Games, World Cups, big events with integrity in mind and the ability to compete at the highest level following the rules and processes.

“From my side I’ll help Canada Soccer where I can with that review, but I’m highly confident that in my time as a head coach at an Olympic Games or World Cup. We’ve never been involved in any of those activities.”

During his availability, Blue reiterated that Andy Spence will manage the women’s team through the Olympics, but said the status of the team’s coaching role will be uncertain beyond the tournament.

Stephanie Labbé, Canada’s starting goalkeeper during the team’s 2020 Olympic gold medal run, defended herself and her play Friday, saying her success came from studying game tape and making educated guesses.

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.

— Stephanie Labbé (@stephlabbe1) July 26, 2024

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(Photo: Eduardo Munoz / AFP via Getty Images)