Canadian coach Priestman apologizes, takes accountability for Olympic soccer scandal
Toronto. Canadian women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman said she is taking accountability and co-operating with an investigation into a spying scandal involving the women’s soccer team that has blown up at the Paris Games.
Preistman offered her first public comments on the scandal Sunday in a statement issued by her lawyers.
“I am absolutely heartbroken for the players, and I would like to apologize from the bottom of my heart for the impact this situation has had on all of them,” Priestman said in the statement issued shortly before Canada took on host France in Saint-Etienne.
Qualtrough said given that the women’s program receives funding from Sport Canada, it is withholding funds “relating to suspended Canada Soccer officials” for the duration of their FIFA sanction.
A spokesperson for Qualtrough’s office confirmed the funding in question is allocated for salaries, but that Sport Canada is still determining exactly how much should be withheld. The funding will not impact the overall available funding to the women’s program, they said.
“Using a drone to surveil another team during a closed practice is cheating,” Qualtrough said. “It is completely unfair to Canadian players and to opposing teams. It undermines the integrity of the game itself.”








