Canada Women’s Football Manager Beverly Priestman suspended amid drone controversy
Canada women’s football manager Beverly Priestman has been removed from her role as Olympic head coach and suspended by Canada Soccer following a drone incident during New Zealand’s training session on Monday.
English-born Priestman, 38, had already withdrawn from Canada’s opening 2-0 victory over New Zealand, while her assistant Jasmine Mander and unaccredited analyst Joseph Lombardi were sent home.
Lombardi received an eight-month suspended jail sentence from a French court for flying a drone without a licence.
Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue announced that Priestman will remain suspended for the rest of the Games pending an independent review.
Assistant coach Andy Spence will lead the team, with their next match against France on Sunday.
Priestman took responsibility for her colleagues’ actions, stating: “This does not represent the values that our team stands for. I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program.”
FIFA has also opened disciplinary proceedings against Priestman, Lombardi, and Mander.
Priestman, from County Durham, began her coaching career with Canada’s women’s Under-17s in 2013, later moving to the Under-20 side.
She briefly returned to England to coach the Under-17 women’s team and served as assistant to Phil Neville with the England women’s team in 2018.
Priestman returned to Canada in 2020, leading the national team to Olympic gold in Tokyo 2021 and the Concacaf W Championship final in 2022.
Despite these successes, Canada’s early exit from the 2023 World Cup was a setback. Priestman is married to former New Zealand midfielder Emma Humphries.
