Olympics drone-spying scandal not isolated misstep: CSA
The Canadian Soccer Association says an independent review has confirmed the Paris Olympics drone-spying scandal was not an isolated misstep.
Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue said in a statement on Friday the spying “was a symptom of a past pattern of an unacceptable culture and insufficient oversight within the national teams.”
Canada Soccer announced on July 31 Sonia Regenbogen of the law firm of Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark had been retained to review the Olympic incident and any related matters.
CSA is reviewing the report, with Blue adding he expects to release conclusions and future steps within a week.
Canada women’s coach Bev Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi are all serving one-year FIFA suspensions after New Zealand’s Olympic Committee filed a complaint with the IOC’s integrity unit, alleging drones were flown over a pair of pre-tournament practice sessions.
Canada were penalised six points in the group phase and fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($A346,000).
Trying to defend their 2021 Olympic title, Canada advanced to the group stage and lost to Germany on penalty kicks in the quarter-finals.
“We know that more needs to be done and change takes time,” CSA board chair Peter Augruso said in a statement.
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