FIFA vice-president calls Canada's drone-spying completely stupid
- Canada deployed a drone to spy on New Zealand's training at the Paris Olympics, leading to severe repercussions.
- Victor Montagliani criticized the decision, calling it 'completely stupid' and questioning its value.
- This scandal resulted in suspensions for Canadian coaching staff and significant penalties for the women's team.
In the lead-up to the Paris Olympics, Canada faced significant controversy over its decision to deploy a drone for spying on the New Zealand women's soccer team's training session. This incident, viewed as a breach of ethics and sportsmanship, resulted in severe consequences for Canadian soccer officials. Victor Montagliani, FIFA's vice-president and former Canada Soccer president, expressed his disbelief at the move, labeling it 'completely stupid' and questioned what information could potentially be obtained through such actions. He highlighted the lengths countries might go to in order to gain competitive advantages in sports but condemned this particular act as an embarrassment to the sport. Following the launch of the investigation, Canada Soccer experienced serious fallout, leading to the suspension of high-profile coaching staff, including head coach Bev Priestman, and assistant coach Jasmine Mander, both receiving one-year suspensions from FIFA. The incident did not stop at mere personnel changes; the Canadian women's team was penalized six points in the tournament by FIFA, dramatically impacting their standings. This decision underscored the seriousness of the act and sent a clear message about the consequences of such unethical behavior in professional sports. Canada Soccer has since initiated an internal investigation to explore whether a culture of spying was pervasive within the organization. This extends to examining the actions of former Canada men’s and women’s coach John Herdman. Montagliani pointed out that disciplinary issues within soccer typically fall under the purview of the national governing bodies, while also noting that in cases with broader implications, FIFA could engage in further action if necessary. Consequently, the organization's reputation has been subjected to scrutiny as the investigation proceeds. The scandal has far-reaching implications for Canadian soccer, emphasizing the need for ethical practices and setting a precedent for punishment in sports. Montagliani's comments reflect a growing concern over the prevalence of unethical tactics in sports worldwide, suggesting that while teams may seek competitive advantages, actions like these risk tarnishing the integrity of the game itself. The fallout from this incident serves as a cautionary tale for sports organizations globally about maintaining fair play and adhering to ethical standards in competition.