Members of Canada’s women’s soccer team firmly stated that they had ‘nothing’ to do with the alleged drone spying incident during the Olympics.
The controversy has led to the dismissal of three staff members, including head coach Bev Priestman, and a six-point deduction for the reigning gold medalists prior to their crucial match against France.
Despite the turmoil, Canada managed to secure a dramatic victory in stoppage time against the hosts, further asserting their stance that they are not cheats.
‘It’s been 72 hours where we have had no control over anything,’ said Vanessa Gilles, who netted the decisive goal, in an interview with ESPN.
‘We’re not involved in any of this, yet we’re being benched as if caught in a doping scandal. We did nothing wrong. We’re exhausted from defending ourselves for something we are not responsible for.’
Canada managed to maintain their Olympic hopes with a last-minute win against France.
Bev Priestman, the suspended head coach, apologized to her players on Sunday.
‘We’ve gained no advantage,’ Gilles emphasized. ‘Each of us plays our heart out, training tirelessly throughout the year. Our greatest frustration is dealing with factors beyond our control.’
It emerged before Canada’s opening game in the Olympics against New Zealand that the team employed drones to scout their competition, which resulted in the departures of assistant coach Jasmine Mander, ‘unaccredited’ analyst Joseph Lombardi, and head coach Priestman.
Each of these individuals has faced a one-year suspension from FIFA, prohibiting them from participating in any football-related activities.
Furthermore, scrutiny has arisen regarding Canada’s gold medal win in Tokyo, with reports indicating attempts by both the men’s and women’s teams to film their opponents’ training sessions over the years, including during the Tokyo games in 2021.
Priestman, who expressed regret to her players on Sunday, was adamant that any form of spying did not influence the team’s success in Tokyo.
Vanessa Gilles expressed the players’ frustration over their need to defend themselves regarding the scandal.
Gilles noted on Sunday that she experienced ‘a whirlwind of emotions’ leading up to the game, with her teammate Kailen Sheridan mentioning a pervasive negativity aimed at the team.
‘We feel disconnected from the ongoing issues we didn’t cause,’ Sheridan stated. ‘We’re under scrutiny right now. It’s like being a target. Unfortunately, we had to endure this. Coming together and shutting out the outside noise was a tough decision.’
The players’ denial of involvement in the drone situation was also supported by Canada soccer CEO Kevin Blue, who asserted in a press conference that the players competing at the Paris Olympics had not viewed any drone footage from Lombardi.
A man resembling Lombardi was apprehended by French authorities after a drone was spotted hovering over New Zealand’s practice session.
Despite the six-point penalty, Canada still holds a chance to progress after claiming victories against New Zealand and France.
They are set to face Colombia on Wednesday, providing an opportunity to advance further.
