’i Didn’t Feel Safe’: Coach Bev Priestman Returns From Spying Ban With Wellinton Phoenix

Former Canada women’s shot coach Bev Priestman has said she “didn’t consciousness safe” surviving successful North America pursuing her one-year prohibition for spying astatine nan Paris Olympics.

Wellington Phoenix announced Wednesday that Priestman would return complete arsenic caput coach of their women’s team, returning to shot successful nan state she was banned for spying connected pinch a drone, New Zealand. She has signed a two-year contract.

The 39-year-old was visibly affectional arsenic she discussed her suspension, and really tense she is to beryllium returning to nan sport.

“I didn’t consciousness safe,” Priestman said of surviving successful Canada aft nan Olympics. “That’s being brutally honest. It was very difficult for my family, and I person to unrecorded pinch that.

“Obviously it was an absolute media frenzy. You’ve sewage group knocking astatine your doorway and everything, and I’ve sewage a small boy. Without going into excessively overmuch detail, it was very difficult. We knew we had to get retired of that country.”

Fifa banned Priestman for 1 year aft her coaching squad utilized a drone to snoop connected New Zealand earlier they played astatine nan Paris Games.

New Zealand had spotted drones flying complete their training sessions earlier their opening lucifer and reported it to officials. An investigation recovered nan Canadian squad had been spying connected rival training sessions for immoderate time.

Priestman said she is prevented from speaking astir nan business successful detail, owed to ongoing ineligible discussions. But connected her return to New Zealand she said she had talked to players and officials.

She said nan move to Wellington was an opportunity to “reset” her career, and rebuild.

On Tuesday night, hours aft her prohibition was lifted, she ran her first coaching convention successful much than a year.

“I celebrated past nighttime coaching nan under-7s, my son’s team, successful nan pouring Wellington rain,” Priestman said. “That was a nice, humbling experience. They sewage each nan power from maine successful that infinitesimal because I’ve conscionable been itching to do that.”

Priestman won nan Olympic golden pinch Canada astatine nan 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and is nan champion credentialed coach to travel to nan women’s A League. She said she had learned from her ban, and her acquisition pinch Canada, and would beryllium a amended coach for it.

“There’s definite values that I clasp and unfortunately, you know, things astir maine person clouded my judgement,” Priestman said. “So for maine personally, I conscionable want to get backmost to... I emotion moving pinch people. I emotion getting nan champion retired of people. I emotion being connected a shot pitch.

“I conscionable want to create a typical infinitesimal for this city, for this state and move forward.”

Wellington Phoenix president Rob Morrison said he was “really pleased to beryllium capable to invited Bev backmost to football”.

“We each cognize she’s had a play of clip distant from nan game, but we understand nan circumstances and we’re really comfortable pinch this appointment. Bev can’t hold to get started, and we’re really happy that she’s going to beryllium coaching nan Phoenix.”