What to Know About the Canada Soccer Cheating Scandal

Canada’s women’s soccer team, the reigning Olympic gold-medalists and FIFA-ranked No. 8 in the world, beat host and No. 2-ranked France on Sunday—their second straight win in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

But the team still faces a tough battle to advance in the competition after being docked six points (the equivalent of two wins) over a cheating scandal that has left their coach Bev Priestman and two assistants banned for a year and the country’s soccer federation under investigation.

Priestman apologized to the players and nation in a statement on Sunday.

“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,” she said. “As the leader of the team on the field, I want to take accountability, and I plan to fully cooperate with the investigation.”

The scandal erupted when the New Zealand Olympic Committee flagged on Tuesday that a drone was flown over its women’s team practice session just days before they were set to face Canada. The drone operator was identified as a “support staff member” of the Canadian women’s soccer team. A French court on Wednesday handed a suspended eight-month sentence to an unnamed 43-year-old Canadian man for filming two of New Zealand’s closed training sessions with an aerial device.

The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) apologized Wednesday, saying it “stands for fair-play and we are shocked and disappointed.” Unaccredited analyst Joseph Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander were removed and sent home, and Priestman voluntarily recused herself from the then-upcoming match against New Zealand, which Canada went on to win 2-1 on Friday, July 25.

Also on Friday, Canadian outlet The Sports Network published a report alleging years of drone-spying by the men’s and women’s soccer teams. Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue said in an interview with Canadian media that he had heard “anecdotal feedback” of potential drone usage by both programs dating back years, including in the recently-concluded men’s Copa América tournament at which Canada exceeded expectations and placed fourth. (Blue said men’s coach Jesse Marsch was only aware of attempted drone use during the Copa tournament after the fact and “denounced it as a practice to his staff.”)

On July 26, Blue said in a statement that “additional information has come to our attention regarding previous drone use against opponents, predating the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” and COC removed Priestman from the Games, suspending her until an independent review is completed.

In a statement released on July 27, FIFA announced sanctions—including the women’s team’s six-point deduction in the group stage of the Paris Olympics; a yearlong suspension for Priestman, Lombardi, and Mander; and a fine to Canada Soccer of 200,000 Swiss francs (over $220,000). FIFA said its Appeal Committee found violations by the Canadian team of article 13 of its code of conduct and article 6.1 of the Olympic soccer tournament regulations—rules related to fair play and responsibilities, respectively.

The COC said it will be “exploring rights of appeal” in relation to the six-point deduction, emphasizing that the players do not deserve to be punished. “We feel terrible for the athletes on the Canadian Women’s Olympic Soccer Team who as far as we understand played no role in this matter,” said COC CEO David Shoemaker, repeating an assertion Blue had made days earlier.

“Canada Soccer took swift action to suspend the implicated staff members and is also proceeding with a broad independent review that may lead to further disciplinary action,” Blue also said in the COC statement Sunday.

Vanessa Gilles, who scored late to secure victory against France on Sunday, said post-match: “We’re not cheaters. We’re damn good players.”

Goalkeeper Kailan Sheridan said: “There’s so much negativity directed toward us, and so many things that are just mean and messed up. … We feel like we have nothing to do with what all these things that are gone on.”

Former players also expressed support for the Canada women’s team.

“Furious. Fuming. Sad. Heartbroken. These players don’t deserve this,” former goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé, who helped Canada win gold in Tokyo 2020, posted on X. “They’ve been let down by so many of their own people, not just [national team] staff.” (Labbé also rejected any accusation that she may have benefited from drone surveillance of opponents, saying in another post: “Do not confuse great goalkeeping with cheating.”)

Diana Matheson, who earned bronze medals with the Canada team in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, said in a statement on X. “Like many Canadians I’ve been working through many emotions on this story that has become such a distraction for not just the [women’s national team] but drawn attention away from the entire Canadian Olympic team.”

Matheson added: “I’m with you. Canadians are with you. Last game, next game, all the games, we are right there with you. Take 6 points from us? Fine, let’s go and get 9.”

Canada plays Colombia on Wednesday, July 31, and it needs to win in order to have a chance at advancing to the knockout round.

Canada sports minister Carla Qualtrough said in a statement Sunday: “Using a drone to surveil another team during a closed practice is cheating. It is completely unfair to Canadian players and to opposing teams. It undermines the integrity of the game itself.”

Qualtrough described the controversy as “deeply concerning” and “deeply regrettable” and said that the government of Canada would withhold pay for the suspended officials.

“This issue has caused significant distraction and embarrassment for Team Canada and all Canadians here in Paris and at home,” Qualtrough said, promising oversight of Canada Soccer’s investigation. “We must, and will, get to the bottom of this.”