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‘To Canada, I am sorry’: Bev Priestman issues apology over Olympic spying scandal
The Canadian women’s soccer team has returned to the pitch despite a cheating scandal that has made it unlikely they’ll secure any medals at this year’s Olympics.
But on Sunday, they came out ahead with a win over France — a win their coach won’t get to be there for.
“To Canada, I am sorry,” Bev Priestman said during a statement the same day. “I am absolutely heartbroken for the players, and I would like to apologize from the bottom of my heart.”
She says the players on her team “care very much about sportsmanship and integrity,” adding that she “wants to take accountability” for the scandal.
The International Football Federation suspended Priestman and two assistants after a Canadian official used a drone to watch the New Zealand team practice.
The federation also fined Canada soccer $313,000.
But most critically, the women’s team has been assessed a six-point penalty, making it unlikely they can win a medal, even though they’re the defending gold medal champions.
Federal Sports Minister Carla Qualtrough also issued a statement today making it clear: “Using a drone to surveil another team during a closed practice is cheating.”
On top of that, the Canadian government withholds any funding for officials who have been suspended. “We must, and will, get to the bottom of this,” she said.