PARIS: Canada’s suspended coach Bev Priestman has apologised to her players and the nation for the drone scandal that led to her exit from the Paris Olympics and dealt a blow to the team’s hopes of a repeat gold medal.
The CSA has appealed against FIFA’s imposition of a six-point penalty but not the coach’s suspension.
Priestman said that as the leader of the team she had accepted accountability and would cooperate fully with all and any investigations.
She said: “I am absolutely heartbroken for the players, and I would like to apologise from the bottom of my heart for the impact this situation has had on all of them.
“To Canada, I am sorry. You have been my home and a country I have fallen in love with. I hope you will continue to support these extremely talented and hardworking players, to help them defy all odds and show their true character.”
Earlier on Sunday, Sport Canada said it was withholding funding allocated for salaries of Priestman and two other suspended team officials, calling the drone scandal that has rocked the Paris Olympic football tournament an embarrassment to all Canadians.
Apart from the six-point penalty, Priestman and officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander have been banned for one year by FIFA.
Canada’s sport minister Carla Qualtrough said: “Using a drone to surveil another team during a closed practice is cheating, 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.”
#####