Canada Soccer: Drone use at Paris Olympics part of 'unacceptable culture'

Canada Soccer released a statement Friday after receiving a report from an independent reviewer hired to investigate the illegal use of drones at the Paris Olympics.

The probe, according to Canada Soccer's CEO Kevin Blue, revealed that the incident last summer involving the Canadian women's team's coaching staff was "a symptom of a past pattern of an unacceptable culture and insufficient oversight within the national team."

Blue suggested that further action based on the findings will be announced in the coming days.

"While we are being thoughtful about how best to address the findings, we also want to move decisively," he said. "To that end, we will release key conclusions and next steps within a week."

Independent investigators, hired by Canada Soccer, considered evidence from various people, including current and former staff employees, Blue and another high-ranking official.

Canada women's coach Bev Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander, and video analyst Joseph Lombardi were banned for one year by FIFA after they were found to have been responsible for a scheme to fly drones over pre-tournament practices.

The scandal came to light in July after New Zealand's Olympic Committee filed a complaint with the International Olympic Committee's integrity unit before the country's opening game of the Summer Olympics against Canada, the defending gold medalist at the time.

Priestman was suspended by Canada Soccer on July 25, a day after apologizing for spying and removing herself from coaching duties for Canada's game against New Zealand.

Canada was docked six points and fined due to the incident. The country still managed to progress out of the group stage, but the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the women's tournament.

Canada Soccer Board Chair Peter Augruso added: "We are committed to renewing our organization, and ensuring Canada Soccer is a federation that people can be proud of. We know that more needs to be done and change takes time."