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Canadian soccer coaches leading both the men's and women's national teams are under scrutiny after reports emerged detailing a pervasive culture of spying within Canada Soccer. Radio-Canada revealed that coaches were involved in pressuring employees to engage in spying activities, with allegations suggesting that the use of drones for espionage predates the infamous incident during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The spying allegations have raised concerns about the integrity of Canada Soccer's coaching staff and their approach to gathering intelligence on opponents.

The investigation conducted by Radio-Canada involved interviews with approximately 20 former players, managers, agents, coaches, and employees associated with Canada Soccer. These sources, who chose to remain anonymous due to fears of professional repercussions, shed light on a longstanding culture of espionage within the organization. The revelations come in the wake of a Canada Soccer employee affiliated with the women's national team being caught flying a drone over a practice session of the New Zealand team during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The origins of the drone spying activities have been traced back to John Herdman's tenure as the coach of the women's national team. Allegations suggest that Herdman was suspected of initiating the use of drones to gather information on opponents, a practice that continued when he transitioned to coaching the men's national team in 2018. Sources cited by Radio-Canada claim that Herdman's successor, Bev Priestman, also adopted the use of drones as a strategic tool for scouting opponents. Priestman, who is currently suspended pending the results of an independent review commissioned by Canada Soccer, has been described as "obsessed with having information about her opponent."

The pervasiveness of the drone spying culture within Canada Soccer has raised questions about ethical conduct and fair play. Despite denials from Herdman and Priestman regarding their involvement in spying activities, allegations of coercion and pressure on individuals within the organization to participate in such practices have surfaced. The use of drones for espionage has not been limited to senior national teams, as reports suggest that Canadian youth national teams were also subjected to surveillance.

As Canada Soccer grapples with the fallout from these revelations, questions loom over the future implications for the coaching staff and the organization as a whole. The anticipated release of the independent review's findings is expected to shed further light on the extent of the spying activities and could potentially have far-reaching consequences for Canada Soccer's leadership. With the spotlight firmly on Canada Soccer, the repercussions of the drone spying scandal are likely to reverberate throughout the world of international soccer.

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