Assistant coach Andy Spence will coach the Canadian women’s team for the rest of the Paris games, the COC said on Thursday night, July 25.

Canada Soccer CEO & General Secretary Kevin Blue wrote in an email that, “Over the past 24 hours, additional information has come to our attention regarding previous drone use against opponents, predating the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”

“In light of these new revelations, Canada Soccer has made the decision to suspend Women’s National Team Head Coach, Bev Priestman for the remainder of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and until the completion of our recently announced independent external review.”

In their opening match at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, Canada defeated New Zealand 2-1; in the wake of this week’s eavesdropping incident, Priestman willingly declined to coach the match.
Days before their inaugural game against the gold medalists from Tokyo 2020, a New Zealand training session was interrupted by a drone piloted by a Canada Soccer staff member on Monday.

Priestman expressed her regret to the New Zealand players and stated that she alone was ultimately responsible for what had transpired.

Canada Soccer announced on Wednesday that it would initiate an impartial outside examination of the drone incident and the past competitive ethics culture present in all of its initiatives.
If you would like more information, please contact Canada Soccer.

In Saint-Etienne on Sunday, the Canadian women are slated to play their Group A opponent, France.