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Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Bev Priestman says she ‘didn't feel safe' in Canada as ban for drone spying scandal ends: ‘We had to get out of that country'
Former Canadian women's soccer head coach Bev Priestman says she 'didn't feel safe' in Canada in the month after the Paris Olympics , when she was suspended by FIFA for her role in the drone spying scandal . Priestman's one-year ban ended this week, and she was named coach of the Wellington Phoenix FC women's team in New Zealand on Tuesday. She said relocating to Wellington — where her wife, Emma Humphries, is the club's academy director — helped her get out of the spotlight of the scandal. 'It was very difficult,' Priestman said during her introductory press conference in New Zealand's capital. 'I didn't leave my house for a month in Canada ... For me, I didn't feel safe. That's being brutally honest. I think it was very difficult for my family and, you know, I have to live with that. I have to weigh that.' Priestman said it was an 'absolute media frenzy' in Canada after the scandal, with people knocking on her door. 'I've got a little boy,' she explained. 'Without going into too much detail, it was very difficult … We knew we had to get out of that country.' Priestman and two other staffers — assistant Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi — were suspended by FIFA for a year last July after the team was caught using drones to spy on New Zealand practices before the teams met at the Paris Olympics. FIFA found Priestman discussed the practice of spying on opponents with staffers in the months before the Olympics, and had written in an email 'there is a whole operation on the men's side with regards to it.' The team was also warned on three occasions in the weeks before the opening ceremony that drone use was prohibited at the Games. Priestman left the Canadian team in November after an independent investigation confirmed the incident was 'a symptom of a difficult and unacceptable past culture within the national teams,' Canada Soccer officials said in a statement at the time. On Tuesday, Priestman said 'things around me had clouded my judgment in that moment' and everyone involved has regrets. 'I've taken that 12 months to reflect, to learn, to grow,' she said. 'It's been very difficult and I'm just excited to put my head down, work hard and get back to work.'
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Former Canada coach said she feared for her safety after Olympic drone-spying scandal
WELLINGTON – Bev Priestman says she didn't leave her house in Canada for a month in the wake of the Paris Olympic drone-spying scandal. 'For me I didn't feel safe, that's being brutally honest,' said the former Canada women's coach. 'It was very difficult for my family and I have to live with that. I have to wear that.' She did not elaborate on her concerns other than citing 'an absolute media frenzy.' 'You've got people knocking on your door and everything. And I've got a little boy. Without going into too much detail, it was very difficult. For my family, and that's the most important thing for me, we knew we had to get out of that country and be a family and focus on us.' Priestman is back in football, having taken charge of the Wellington Phoenix FC women's team in New Zealand. 'I can't wait to get to work,' Priestman told a news conference Wednesday. 'Today's a good day.' Priestman declined to speak on what happened in Paris but said she had taken the 12-month hiatus 'to reflect, to learn, to grow. 'It's been very difficult and I'm just excited to put my head down, work hard and get back to work and do what I love every day.' Asked if she had any regrets, she replied: 'I think everybody involved will certainly have regrets, for sure.' 'What I will say is I'm a pretty optimistic person and I think there's been days in the last 12 months (where) that optimism has been very difficult. But again it feels like Christmas Day to me to come back. I know I have to earn the trust — of everybody. And I'll be working hard to do that.' Asked what she had learned from the scandal with Canada, Priestman cited 'certain values that I hold.' 'And unfortunately things around me have clouded my judgment in that moment,' she added. Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joey Lombardi were all handed one-year suspensions by FIFA in the wake of New Zealand's Olympic Committee filing a complaint with the International Olympic Committee's integrity unit, alleging drones were flown over a pair of pre-tournament practice sessions. All three are no longer with Canada Soccer. The first six months of her ban involved 'just getting through the day,' Priestman said. She started looking to the future around Christmas. Priestman said she looks forward to the day-to-day challenge of club coaching after her time in the international arena. The two-year appointment coincides with the expiration of Priestman's one-year FIFA ban arising from the drone incident. The 39-year-old Priestman has ties to the Wellington club through her wife Emma Humphries, a former New Zealand international who is the club's academy director. Priestman also headed up coach development in Wellington some 16 years ago. Wellington finished ninth in Australia's 12-team A-League last season at 7-13-3. Priestman spent five years with Canada Soccer in a variety of coaching roles before returning in June 2018 to her native England, where she served as coach of England's women's under-18 side and assistant coach with the senior English women. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Priestman succeeded Kenneth Heiner-Moller as Canada women's coach in November 2020 and was a nominee for FIFA Women's Best Coach in 2021 and 2022. In her first go-round with Canada Soccer, Priestman served as director of its developmental EXCEL program and had stints as coach of the under-15, under-17 and under-20 women's sides. She was also an assistant coach to John Herdman while he was in charge of the women's team. Before that, she spent 4 1/2 years with New Zealand Football, serving as head of football development before leaving in June 2013 to join Herdman in Canada. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Former Canada coach said she feared for her safety after Olympic drone-spying scandal
WELLINGTON - Bev Priestman says she didn't leave her house in Canada for a month in the wake of the Paris Olympic drone-spying scandal. 'For me I didn't feel safe, that's being brutally honest,' said the former Canada women's coach. 'It was very difficult for my family and I have to live with that. I have to wear that.' She did not elaborate on her concerns other than citing 'an absolute media frenzy.' 'You've got people knocking on your door and everything. And I've got a little boy. Without going into too much detail, it was very difficult. For my family, and that's the most important thing for me, we knew we had to get out of that country and be a family and focus on us.' Priestman is back in football, having taken charge of the Wellington Phoenix FC women's team in New Zealand. 'I can't wait to get to work,' Priestman told a news conference Wednesday. 'Today's a good day.' Priestman declined to speak on what happened in Paris but said she had taken the 12-month hiatus 'to reflect, to learn, to grow. 'It's been very difficult and I'm just excited to put my head down, work hard and get back to work and do what I love every day.' Asked if she had any regrets, she replied: 'I think everybody involved will certainly have regrets, for sure.' 'What I will say is I'm a pretty optimistic person and I think there's been days in the last 12 months (where) that optimism has been very difficult. But again it feels like Christmas Day to me to come back. I know I have to earn the trust — of everybody. And I'll be working hard to do that.' Asked what she had learned from the scandal with Canada, Priestman cited 'certain values that I hold.' 'And unfortunately things around me have clouded my judgment in that moment,' she added. Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joey Lombardi were all handed one-year suspensions by FIFA in the wake of New Zealand's Olympic Committee filing a complaint with the International Olympic Committee's integrity unit, alleging drones were flown over a pair of pre-tournament practice sessions. All three are no longer with Canada Soccer. The first six months of her ban involved 'just getting through the day,' Priestman said. She started looking to the future around Christmas. Priestman said she looks forward to the day-to-day challenge of club coaching after her time in the international arena. The two-year appointment coincides with the expiration of Priestman's one-year FIFA ban arising from the drone incident. The 39-year-old Priestman has ties to the Wellington club through her wife Emma Humphries, a former New Zealand international who is the club's academy director. Priestman also headed up coach development in Wellington some 16 years ago. Wellington finished ninth in Australia's 12-team A-League last season at 7-13-3. Priestman spent five years with Canada Soccer in a variety of coaching roles before returning in June 2018 to her native England, where she served as coach of England's women's under-18 side and assistant coach with the senior English women. Priestman succeeded Kenneth Heiner-Moller as Canada women's coach in November 2020 and was a nominee for FIFA Women's Best Coach in 2021 and 2022. In her first go-round with Canada Soccer, Priestman served as director of its developmental EXCEL program and had stints as coach of the under-15, under-17 and under-20 women's sides. She was also an assistant coach to John Herdman while he was in charge of the women's team. Before that, she spent 4 1/2 years with New Zealand Football, serving as head of football development before leaving in June 2013 to join Herdman in Canada. —- This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Priestman 'didn't feel safe' in Canada after spying ban
Former Canada women's coach Beverly Priestman says she did not feel safe remaining in the country following her one-year ban for spying at the 2024 39-year-old was appointed head coach of New Zealand women's side Wellington Phoenix on Wednesday. It is Priestman's first role since she was banned from football activity for 12 months by Fifa following a spying scandal at the Paris Games last summer. England-born Priestman and two other members of Canada's staff were banned after a drone was used to spy on a training session held by opponents New Zealand before their opening group-stage match. Before a ban was issued, Priestman was removed as head coach by Canada Soccer after they discovered previous drone use against opponents which "predated" the Olympics. "I didn't feel safe [living in Canada]," Priestman said. "That's being brutally honest. It was very difficult for my family, and I have to live with that."Obviously it was an absolute media frenzy. You've got people knocking at your door and everything, and I've got a little boy. Without going into too much detail, it was very difficult. We knew we had to get out of that country."As well as a one-year ban, Priestman was given an eight-month suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to flying a drone in an urban area without a licence. In her absence, Canada made it out of the group stages at the Olympics - despite being docked six points for the incident. They were knocked out by Germany on penalties at the quarter-final stage. Priestman, who served as Phil Neville's assistant for two years with England's women, guided Canada to Olympic gold at Tokyo in 2021.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Bev Priestman returns from FIFA-imposed ban to lead Wellington Phoenix
Bev Priestman, who was banned over her role in the Paris Olympics drone spying scandal, will make her coaching return with A-League Women club Wellington Phoenix. Priestman, who guided Canada to Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has signed a two-year deal with the Phoenix following Paul Temple's departure at the end of last season. Canada Soccer sacked her in 2024 and FIFA banned her for one year after opponents New Zealand uncovered Canada's surveillance tactics. Priestman apologised and said she accepted accountability as the leader of the team. She would have been among the top contenders to take over as Matildas coach — a role now filled by Joe Montemurro — had she not been suspended. Her ban ended on July 27, paving the way for a coaching return with the Phoenix. "Coming back to New Zealand and seeing the Phoenix week in week out as the only professional women's team has been amazing," Priestman said. "We have a responsibility now to fly the flag for this country and try to do something special." Priestman returns to New Zealand after heading up coach development in Wellington 16 years ago. She has also served as New Zealand Football's director of football development, and has coached at four FIFA Women's World Cups, three Olympics and three FIFA Youth World Cups. Phoenix chair Rob Morrison said the club was excited Priestman was joining its ranks. "We all know she's had a period of time away from the game, but we understand the circumstances and we're really comfortable with this appointment," he said. "Bev can't wait to get started and we're really happy that she's going to be coaching the Phoenix." The Phoenix finished ninth last season, parting ways with Temple before appointing Amy Shepard as interim coach. AAP
