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The recent Canadian soccer spying scandal involving the use of a drone to spy on training sessions in Paris has caused quite a stir in the world of women’s soccer. The scandal resulted in a six-point deduction in group play for Canada’s Olympic team and a one-year ban for head coach Bev Priestman.
Interestingly, it has been revealed that the U.S. Soccer Federation was aware of Canada’s alleged spying tactics for some time, but chose not to report it to any governing body. This decision was influenced by larger projects that the two countries have been collaborating on, such as the joint bid for the 2026 World Cup with Mexico.
“It wasn’t worth it with so many bigger-ticket issues out there,” a source told ESPN. “But that doesn’t mean it didn’t matter.”
Instances of spying on U.S. Soccer practices by Canadian individuals have also been reported in recent years. One notable incident occurred in 2021 when a man was caught watching a closed men’s team practice and admitted to working for Canada Soccer.
The use of drones for spying purposes seems to be a common practice for the Canadian soccer teams, as evidenced by the recent drone incident at a New Zealand practice in Paris. This behavior has allegedly been ongoing for years, with reports indicating similar incidents at the 2021 Tokyo Games and during qualification for the Women’s World Cup.
Despite the controversy, Canada’s women’s team continues to compete in the Olympics, with their next match scheduled against France. The team will conclude group play with a match against Colombia next week.