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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Priestman criticized by players over drone scandal</li><li>Incident at Olympics led to six-point deduction</li><li>FIFA also banned the coach for a year</li></ul>

‘She didn’t take responsibility’ - Canada stars criticize head coach Bev Priestman for lack of ‘accountability’ during CanWNT Olympic drone scandal

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/how-canada-olympic-spy-drone-discovered-new-zealand-squad-rebekah-stott-reveals-canwnt-apology/blt3dcadfe72ec0324a" target="_blank">Canada Soccer was at the center of controversy during the Games this summer after New Zealand, its women's team's first opponent, spotted a drone flying over one of its training sessions</a>. It transpired that a Canada staff member, Joseph Lombardi, had been spying on the opposition, leading to his imprisonment before he accepted an eight-month suspended sentence. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/canada-soccer-spygate-explained/blte27ee3e06a8add66" target="_blank">Following that, past incidents of spying via drones came to light, leading to Priestman being banned for a year by FIFA, the Canada team being deducted six points and the federation beginning an investigation</a>.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Somehow, Canada still managed to progress from the group stage, winning all three of its matches to reach the quarter-finals against all odds. However, that was as far as the 2020 Olympic gold medallists would go in a tournament marred by a controversy that will not go away quietly, as investigations continue.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Two members of Priestman's Paris 2024 roster, defender Gabby Carle and striker Evelyne Viens, have now spoken candidly about the Olympics on the latest episode of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH5KqLDwuIM" target="_blank">Footy Prime</a>, with the former unhappy with a lack of responsibility taken by the head coach during the tournament."She told us she was going to take all responsibility. You want candid? In my opinion, she didn't. I think she kind of went around and I don't think that was okay," Carle said. "At the end of the day, whatever happened to her, happened. But I think initially we just thought, 'Okay, this is being handled. Our coaches are dealing with this. Our head coach is dealing with this. It's under control'. And then the very next day, we see the press release and we realize, 'Oh, accountability is not being taken'. Then it just kept getting worse and worse and worse."I think we're really lucky that our team had such a great leadership group, also a group that already had so much experience and people that had been in in weird situations like these ones before. This was definitely our worst crisis but we had been in crisis before, so I think we were handling it well and we knew that we could do this without a head coach, or with the staff that remained - who were so great, by the way. I think we were so lucky to have them."

WHAT THE CANADA PLAYERS SAID

In a report during the Olympics, sources told <a href="https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/canada-s-men-s-and-women-s-soccer-teams-have-relied-on-drones-and-spying-for-years-sources-say-1.2153674" target="_blank">TSN</a> that the Canada national teams had been partaking in spying for many years, including during Tokyo 2020 when the women's side won Olympic gold. Canada Soccer is investigating the whole situation, including these past incidents, with its findings to be revealed in due course.Viens, meanwhile, is hopeful that the controversy will not overshadow past achievements of the national team, which also won bronze medals at London 2016 and Rio 2016. "I really hope for all the [veterans], for everyone, that from what they find, our reputation is not damaged or something because the players have just been going through so much and just worked for the country," she said."I really hope the whole world doesn't think we're cheaters because we're not. We're just hard workers that... We don't play for the money, we don't play for that, we just play for our badge and representing our country and making people proud. I just really hope that people of the world don't think we're cheaters."

DID YOU KNOW?

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/fifa-deducts-canada-olympic-team-six-points-and-bans-bev-priestman-for-a-year-over-drone-spying-scandal/blt140f5cd6f6ce180f" target="_blank">Despite her FIFA suspension</a>, Canada Soccer has yet to announce anything regarding Priestman's future as head coach of the women's team while it continues its investigations. Once that process is completed, there will be more clarity on the chaotic situation the federation is in.

WHAT NEXT FOR PRIESTMAN AND CANADA?

‘She didn’t take responsibility’ - Canada stars criticize head coach Bev Priestman for lack of ‘accountability’ during CanWNT Olympic drone scandal | Goal.com

Canada coach Bev Priestman has been criticized by members of her Olympic roster for not taking ‘responsibility’ during the Paris 2024 drone scandal.