The Canada women’s football coach at the centre of a spying scandal that has rocked the Olympics has sensationally claimed that the men’s side has ‘a whole operation’ on it.
Bev Priestman, who is English, also made the astonishing allegation that ‘all top 10 teams spy’ in a bombshell email that emerged after her team was rumbled flying a drone above a training session of opponents New Zealand.
The 38-year-old, from Consett, was banned from football for a year by FIFA along with two of her assistants after details of the espionage, which saw one member of staff arrested, last week.
Canada, who won gold under Priestman in Tokyo, were also hit with a six-point penalty deduction.
However, staggering details have been disclosed after their attempt to have the deduction reduced or cancelled was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Suspended Canada women’s coach Bev Priestman made the astonishing allegation that ‘all top 10 teams spy’
Emails show Priestman speaking about the practice of spying as commonplace
She said that all top 10 teams engage in the practice and it can be the difference between winning and losing
The spying scandal has rocked the Olympics after the drone was spotted flying above New Zealand’s training session (stock image)
In the first of two incredible emails, sent in March, an analyst asks Priestman for assurances that they will not be asked to ‘fulfil the role of spying’ at upcoming camps. They add a number of reasons for making the request, which include their own reputation within the field and their own morals.
According to the CAS report, Priestman then forwarded the email to another unnamed member of staff with a message of her own. In it she seeks advice on spying and says: ‘It’s something the analyst has always done.’
She adds: ‘I know there is a whole operation on the Men’s side with regards to it (we had XX in with us recently and he was outstanding in this area).
‘On Tuesday in a meeting when discussing, I asked to propose a alternative solution as for scouting it can be the difference between winning and losing and all top 10 teams do it.’
Priestman concludes by asking for HR advice.
Former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch is the current coach of Canada’s men’s team. He was appointed in May (after the email was sent).
Canada beat New Zealand 2-1 in their group stage opener after the spying scandal broke
Jesse Marsch is the Canada men’s boss, appointed after the emails were sent
Marsch replaced Mauro Biello, who had been interim head coach of the Maple Leafs since October 2023 when Englishman John Herdman departed to become Toronto FC boss.
CAS rejected the appeal with a fast-tracked judgement, with the details made public as part of a transparent process with FIFA.
A day after the scandal broke, Canada defeated New Zealand 2-1. They also beat hosts France by the same scoreline and are due to play Colombia on Wednesday night.
