Olympic football: Canada used drones before Paris 2024, including at Copa America

Canada have used drones in football tournaments prior to the Paris Olympics and their Tokyo 2020 women’s gold medal could be tarnished, officials said on Friday.

The developments emerged after Bev Priestman was removed as Olympics head coach for Canada’s women’s team, following the flying of a drone over New Zealand’s training session on Monday.

Priestman, 38, was judged as “highly likely” to have been aware of the incident, leading to her suspension by Canada Soccer.

Canadian media reported that both of the country’s senior teams – men’s and women’s – have relied on drones for years.

Canada Soccer chief executive Kevin Blue confirmed he had received “anecdotal feedback” related to drone use during the men’s team’s run to the Copa America semi-finals this summer and that coach Jesse Marsch had been made aware of it.

“I am aware of an instance of attempted drone usage at the Copa America,” Blue said.

“I have spoken with our current head coach about the incident after it occurred and I know he denounced it as a practice to his staff.”

Blue said there may be a “systemic ethical shortcoming” that needs to be addressed.

Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive David Shoemaker said there “appears to be information that could tarnish” Canada’s women’s football triumph from the Tokyo Games.

Shoemaker said: “It makes me ill, it makes me sick to my stomach to think that there could be something that calls it into question.”