MPs choose private meeting over public testimony in soccer scandal

In Canada, the parliamentary standing committee on Canadian heritage voted for a private meeting with lawyer Sonia Regenbogen, who investigated the Canada Soccer spying scandal. The vote was contentious as it effectively rejected a proposal from NDP MP Niki Ashton, who wanted former head coach Bev Priestman, her predecessor John Herdman, and other key stakeholders to testify publicly about the issues revealed in recent media reports. Ashton's proposal arose in light of serious allegations regarding workplace culture and spying within the women’s program, documented in investigations before the 2024 Paris Olympics. While ten of the eleven committee members agreed to the private meeting, Ashton described this decision as detrimental to transparency and accountability. She emphasized the need for a thorough inquiry into the broader implications of the scandal beyond just spying, highlighting how it has harmed Canada Soccer's reputation and potentially misused public funds. While Canada Soccer responded that their coaches would not return to the organization, the committee’s focus remains on the investigation led by Regenbogen, which will determine if further public hearings are necessary to address the reports and the culture issues within the governing body. Additionally, recent discussions included the Minister of Sport Carla Qualtrough, who acknowledged the existence of a troubling culture in Canada Soccer but refrained from commenting on specific governance or policy changes related to the scandal. The media has previously reported on serious warnings regarding workplace issues, suggesting Canada Soccer had knowledge of these conditions well before the Olympics, yet no violations were found at that time. The situation reflects ongoing concerns about the integrity and management within the Canadian sports framework.