logo
Canada coach banned in Olympic drone spying scandal set to resume her career in New Zealand

Canada coach banned in Olympic drone spying scandal set to resume her career in New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Canada coach banned for her role in a drone spying scandal at the Paris Olympics has been hired as head coach of New Zealand's only professional women's team.
Bev Priestman, who recently finished a one-year suspension from all soccer-related activity, signed a two-year deal with Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand's capital city.
It's a twist of fate for Priestman, who was suspended after a FIFA investigation found that she along with other coaching staff had used drones to spy on the New Zealand women's national team prior to Canada's first match at the Paris Olympics.
She was fired as head coach of Canada's women's national team after as review by Canada Soccer.
'We're really pleased to be able to welcome Bev back to football,' Phoenix chairman Rob Morrison said. 'We all know she's had a period of time away from the game. But we understand the circumstances and we're really comfortable with this appointment.
'Bev can't wait to get started and we're really happy that she's going to be coaching the Phoenix.'
Priestman guided Canada to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and has coached at four Women's World Cups, three Olympic Games and three FIFA youth World Cups.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Copper leads Phoenix against Connecticut after 25-point showing
Copper leads Phoenix against Connecticut after 25-point showing

Yahoo

time38 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Copper leads Phoenix against Connecticut after 25-point showing

Connecticut Sun (5-22, 3-8 Eastern Conference) at Phoenix Mercury (17-11, 9-7 Western Conference) Phoenix; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix Mercury hosts the Connecticut Sun after Kahleah Copper scored 25 points in the Phoenix Mercury's 83-67 victory against the Chicago Sky. The Mercury are 9-4 in home games. Phoenix is third in the Western Conference scoring 83.4 points while shooting 43.4% from the field. The Sun are 1-11 on the road. Connecticut is sixth in the Eastern Conference scoring 74.9 points per game and is shooting 40.4%. Phoenix scores 83.4 points per game, 3.6 fewer points than the 87.0 Connecticut gives up. Connecticut's 40.4% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.4 percentage points lower than Phoenix has given up to its opponents (42.8%). The teams square off for the second time this season. The Mercury won the last matchup 83-75 on June 18, with Lexi Held scoring 14 points in the victory. TOP PERFORMERS: Alyssa Thomas is scoring 16.0 points per game and averaging 8.4 rebounds for the Mercury. Sami Whitcomb is averaging 11.2 points and 2.3 rebounds over the last 10 games. Tina Charles is averaging 16.1 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Sun. Bria Hartley is averaging 12.9 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 40.4% over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Mercury: 5-5, averaging 82.4 points, 35.3 rebounds, 20.8 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 81.9 points per game. Sun: 3-7, averaging 81.3 points, 33.0 rebounds, 17.1 assists, 8.8 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 42.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 84.0 points. INJURIES: Mercury: None listed. Sun: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Hong Kong cancels passports and bans financial support for 16 overseas activists
Hong Kong cancels passports and bans financial support for 16 overseas activists

The Hill

time40 minutes ago

  • The Hill

Hong Kong cancels passports and bans financial support for 16 overseas activists

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong authorities on Monday strengthened a crackdown on 16 overseas-based activists who were previously targeted by bounties on suspicion of endangering national security, implementing measures that include banning financial support to them and canceling passports for most of them. The activists were among 19 people who were targeted with arrest warrants in July for alleged roles in Hong Kong Parliament, a group the police called a subversive organization abroad. The organization is not the city's official legislature and its influence is limited. Three of the original 19 activists were already targeted by similar measures last year. Secretary for Security Chris Tang banned providing funds or economic resources to the 16 activists, including Victor Ho, Keung Ka-wai, Australian academic Chongyi Feng and U.S. citizen Gong Sasha, the Hong Kong government said in a statement. Travel documents were canceled for 12 of the 16 who hold Hong Kong passports. The government also prohibited properties from being leased to the people on the list or forming joint ventures with them. Anyone violating the orders risks a penalty of up to seven years in prison. The 16 activists are hiding in the U.K., the U.S., Canada, Germany, Australia, Thailand and Taiwan, among other regions, the government said, accusing them of continuing to engage in activities endangering national security. The notice also accused them of intending to incite hatred against Beijing and Hong Kong through smear and slander. 'We therefore have taken such measures to make a significant impact,' the statement said. Beijing imposed a national security law on the territory in 2020 that has effectively wiped out most public dissent following huge anti-government protests in 2019. Many activists were arrested, silenced or forced into self-exile. The measures announced Monday were issued under the powers granted by Hong Kong's homegrown national security law enacted last year. The arrest warrants issued in July have drawn criticism from foreign governments, including the U.S., the U.K. and the European Union. Police offered rewards of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars ($25,480) to 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($127,400) for information leading to their arrests. In a July statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the moves. 'The extraterritorial targeting of Hong Kongers who are exercising their fundamental freedoms is a form of transnational repression,' he said. 'We will not tolerate the Hong Kong government's attempts to apply its national security laws to silence or intimidate Americans or anyone on U.S. soil.' The Hong Kong office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded by opposing criticism from foreign politicians, insisting the actions were legitimate.

Hong Kong cancels passports and bans financial support for 16 overseas activists
Hong Kong cancels passports and bans financial support for 16 overseas activists

San Francisco Chronicle​

time40 minutes ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Hong Kong cancels passports and bans financial support for 16 overseas activists

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong authorities on Monday strengthened a crackdown on 16 overseas-based activists who were previously targeted by bounties on suspicion of endangering national security, implementing measures that include banning financial support to them and canceling passports for most of them. The activists were among 19 people who were targeted with arrest warrants in July for alleged roles in Hong Kong Parliament, a group the police called a subversive organization abroad. The organization is not the city's official legislature and its influence is limited. Three of the original 19 activists were already targeted by similar measures last year. Secretary for Security Chris Tang banned providing funds or economic resources to the 16 activists, including Victor Ho, Keung Ka-wai, Australian academic Chongyi Feng and U.S. citizen Gong Sasha, the Hong Kong government said in a statement. Travel documents were canceled for 12 of the 16 who hold Hong Kong passports. The government also prohibited properties from being leased to the people on the list or forming joint ventures with them. Anyone violating the orders risks a penalty of up to seven years in prison. The 16 activists are hiding in the U.K., the U.S., Canada, Germany, Australia, Thailand and Taiwan, among other regions, the government said, accusing them of continuing to engage in activities endangering national security. The notice also accused them of intending to incite hatred against Beijing and Hong Kong through smear and slander. "We therefore have taken such measures to make a significant impact,' the statement said. Beijing imposed a national security law on the territory in 2020 that has effectively wiped out most public dissent following huge anti-government protests in 2019. Many activists were arrested, silenced or forced into self-exile. The measures announced Monday were issued under the powers granted by Hong Kong's homegrown national security law enacted last year. The arrest warrants issued in July have drawn criticism from foreign governments, including the U.S., the U.K. and the European Union. Police offered rewards of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars ($25,480) to 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($127,400) for information leading to their arrests. 'The extraterritorial targeting of Hong Kongers who are exercising their fundamental freedoms is a form of transnational repression,' he said. 'We will not tolerate the Hong Kong government's attempts to apply its national security laws to silence or intimidate Americans or anyone on U.S. soil.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store