From Olympic Glory to Controversy

Beverly Priestman, the 39-year-old English coach who led Canada to Tokyo 2020 gold medal glory, has broken her silence about the surveillance scandal that reshaped her career. Appointed Wednesday as head coach of New Zealand's Wellington Phoenix, Priestman told BBC Sport: "Living in Canada became untenable after the drone incident."

The Spying Fallout

• Banned from football for 12 months by FIFA
• Received 8-month suspended jail sentence
• Canada Soccer terminated contract pre-ban
• Media frenzy led to safety concerns

Behind the Drone Incident During the 2024 Paris Olympics:

1. Canada staff used unlicensed drone surveillance
2. Targeted New Zealand's closed training session
3. Violated FIFA's Article 69 (sporting integrity)
4. Canada docked 6 Olympic points post-scandal

"When people start showing up at your home with cameras," Priestman revealed, "and you're trying to protect your child... that changes everything."

What's Next? The embattled coach faces:

• Rebuilding trust in New Zealand
• FIFA compliance monitoring until 2025
• Potential legal challenges from Canada

"This game tests you," Priestman concluded. "But football remains my oxygen."