Canada boss hit with lengthy ban over Paris Olympics spygate scandal as FIFA intervenes | Soccer | Sports

Canada boss Bev Priestman and two of her assistants have been handed a one-year ban by FIFA over the Olympics spygate scandal. Priestman took responsibility after a drone flew over New Zealand’s training session ahead of their women’s football clash at the Games.

The English-born coach was suspended by Canada Soccer while an internal review took place. A French court announced that analyst Joseph Lombardi had been handed an eight-month suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to flying a drone in an urban area without a license.

FIFA has announced that Priestman, Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander have been handed one-year suspensions. They will not be allowed to take part in any football-related activity at that time.

Priestman said after news of the incident emerged: “I first and foremost want to apologize to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and to the players on Team Canada. This does not represent the values ​​that our team stands for.

“I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program.”

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive David Shoemaker said: “One of the key pieces of information was the conclusion from Canada Soccer that (Priestman) needed to be suspended based on their accumulation of facts.

“I’ve seen some of the information they have, and we gathered some additional information ourselves that made me conclude that she was highly likely to have been aware of the incidents here.”

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