FIFA launches investigation into Canadian soccer team coach Bev ...

Coach Bev Priestman of Canada takes photos on the pitch at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, on July 23, 2024, in Saint-Etienne, France.Silvia Izquierdo/The Associated Press

Canadian Olympic Committee CEO David Shoemaker said on Wednesday he is satisfied that Canada has taken appropriate steps to contain a soccer spying scandal and keep the faith with women’s team head coach, Bev Priestman.

“Winning the right way is the only way for us,” Mr. Shoemaker said. “We are satisfied that these steps are appropriate.”

As it stands, Priestman will miss Canada’s first game on Thursday, but resume her duties after that.

Meanwhile, FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, said Wednesday that it will investigate three coaches of Canada’s national women’s team, including head coach Bev Priestman, for violating its disciplinary code.

Two of those coaches – analyst Joseph Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander – were sent home from the Olympics on Wednesday.

This comes after French police arrested someone operating a drone over a practice session held by the New Zealand national women’s team. Canada begins its gold-medal defence against New Zealand on Thursday.

Priestman volunteered to absent herself during Thursday’s game.

In a release, FIFA said proceedings against all three will begin “in the next days.”

Early Wednesday morning, the Canadian Olympic Committee said that a “non-accredited” staffer had been detained by authorities.

By Wednesday afternoon, the COC said there were now two instances – on July 19 and 22 – of spying on the practices of the New Zealand women’s team.

Lombardi, an “unaccredited” analyst for the team, and Mander, the assistant coach Lombardi reports to, have been removed from the Olympic team and sent home.

Opinion: Canada’s soccer spying is a humiliating way to kick off Paris 2024

The COC said head coach Priestman offered to remove herself from the first game. Assistant coach Andy Spence will be in charge on the Canadian sidelines in the Group A opener on Thursday.

“Irrespective of the details, I’m ultimately accountable for this team,” Priestman told The Canadian Press.

“By no means did I direct the individuals,” Priestman said. “I’m still learning the details and obviously this is all unfolding. But again, I think the important thing right now is to look forward, put the actions in place and take the sanctions.”

Upon the conclusion of the Olympics, the COC said that Canada Soccer staff will undergo ethics training.

The Canadian Press said analysis of the images captured by Lombardi showed New Zealand players applying instructions given by their coach, but also images captured earlier when they were training in Saint-Étienne.

He admitted to the acts committed, which had initially been kept under wraps, while Mander was also interviewed but said she had nothing to do with the acts committed and was therefore exonerated.

On Monday, the New Zealand Olympic Committee complained to police and the IOC’s integrity unit about a drone flying overhead of their practice in Saint-Étienne, the site of Canada’s opening match against New Zealand.

“Team support members immediately reported the incident to police, leading to the drone operator, who has been identified as a support staff member of the wider Canadian women’s football team, to be detained,” an NZOC statement said.

It continued: “The NZOC and New Zealand Football are committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games and are deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident, which occurred just three days before the sides are due to face each other in their opening game of Paris 2024.”

With a report from The Canadian Press