Canada cuts Priestman funding as minister says spy scandal has embarrassed nation

Sport Canada is withholding funding relating to the country’s women’s football coach, Bev Priestman, and two other suspended team officials, calling the drone scandal that has engulfed the team a national embarrassment.

Canada were docked six points – a huge blow to their hopes of retaining the Olympic title they won at the Tokyo Games – after it emerged they had used drones to spy on opponents. Fifa also banned Priestman and officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander from any football-related activity for one year.

“Using a drone to surveil another team during a closed practice is cheating,” Canada’s sport minister, Carla Qualtrough, said in a statement . “It is completely unfair to Canadian players and to opposing teams. It undermines the integrity of the game itself.

“Given that the women’s program receives funding from Sport Canada, we are withholding funding relating to suspended Canada Soccer officials for the duration of their Fifa sanction.

Related: Canada spying scandal threatens to tarnish their Tokyo football gold

“There is a deeply concerning pattern of behaviour at Canada Soccer. We must, and will, get to the bottom of this. This issue has caused significant distraction and embarrassment for Team Canada and all Canadians here in Paris and at home.”

Canada Soccer has said it was exploring how it could appeal the six-point penalty, which was handed down by Fifa. The punishment leaves Canada bottom of their group , on minus three points, with two matches left to play. They won their opening game, against New Zealand, and have matches against France and Colombia to come.

Former Canada players have thrown their support behind the players.

“Furious. Fuming. Sad. Heartbroken. These players don’t deserve this,” former goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, who helped Canada win gold at Tokyo, posted on X.

“They’ve been let down by so many of their own people, not just [the national team] staff. Standing with these players and every player that has ever been part of this program, and worked so hard to build it, not tear it down.”

Diana Matheson, who retired in 2020 after 206 appearances for Canada over a 17-year career, gave her full support to the players.

“Like many Canadians, I’ve been working through many emotions on this story that has become such a distraction for not just the WNT, but drawn attention away from the entire Canadian Olympic team,” she wrote. “I stand with the players. I’m with you. Canadians are with you. Last game, next game, all the games, we are right there with you. Take six points from us? Fine, let’s go get nine.”

On Saturday, ESPN reported that US Soccer had been aware of Canadian teams attempting to spy on American practice sessions. A source told ESPN that US Soccer had not reported its concerns to Fifa because the US and Canada, along with Mexico, are co-hosting the 2026 World Cup.

“It wasn’t worth it with so many bigger-ticket issues out there,” the source told ESPN . “But that doesn’t mean it didn’t matter.”

Canada Soccer has been dogged by controversy and allegations for a number of years. In 2019, the Guardian uncovered allegations of abusive behaviour by an elite Canadian coach in 2008.

In February 2023 Canada’s women’s players went on strike over pay issues and budget cuts. They were threatened with legal action by Canada Soccer. In July 2023 a short-term deal ensuring minimum equal pay with the men’s team was reached, but long-term agreement remains outstanding. The coach of the Canadian men’s team, Jesse Marsch, is partly funded by the country’s MLS teams.