Canada cuts Priestman funding as minister says spy scandal has embarrassed nation

• Tokyo champions docked six points for drone incident
• Priestman issues apology ‘from the bottom of my heart’

Sport Canada is withholding funding relating to the country’s women’s football coach, Bev Priestman, and two other suspended team officials, calling the drone scandal that has engulfed the team a national embarrassment. Priestman herself has meanwhile issued a statement of apology.

Canada were docked six points – a huge blow to their hopes of retaining the Olympic title they won at the Tokyo Games – after it emerged they had used drones to spy on opponents. Fifa also banned the Englishwoman Priestman and the officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander from any football-related activity for one year.