When New Zealand’s team spotted a drone flying over their training camp in France, they were shocked. People believed Canada’s women’s team was spying on New Zealand. This resulted in head coach Bev Priestman being suspended. However, it was the former USMNT captain Tyler Adams’ revelation that was even more shocking!

“I mean, listen, every team does it. I know for a fact. Every team does it in some capacity,” Adams said, referring to spying. Though he said he is unaware of drone use, Adams’ statement didn’t sit well as it added more fuel to the fire and pushed USMNT under speculations. Highlighting the same concern, ex-USMNT star Alexi Lalas wondered why the US midfielder claimed so.

He discussed the matter on the State of the Union podcast episode, released on Aug 1. “… the act of spying, if you want to call it spying, has been around for decades and decades. But this is a whole another level, when you are talking about drones spying. And I don’t think that Tyler Adams necessarily means everyone is using drones for spying on other teams. And if he did, that would be a revelation,” said Lalas. 

Well, the spying incident resulted in a six-point penalty for Canada. They even lost the appeal they made against this penalty at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Additionally, Priestman had referenced to the men’s senior national team employing similar tactics.

But coming back to Lalas, he further added,

It is to be noted that Lalas also said that some form of spying is prevalent in the sport. To give clarity, the ex-US defender said rival fans show up at teams’ training and have a look at it. But with regards to the Olympics in France, flying a drone over an Olympic competition site was prohibited by law. Yet it keeps happening. In fact, security has been intercepting an average of six drones a day.

Regardless, Priestman apologized to her team. As per the information available, the players were unaware of any spying going on. But the incident and Adams’ revelation have shaken up many. This includes Herculez Gomez.

Team USA veteran warns Tyler Adams for putting USMNT in a negative light!

Just like Alexi Lalas wondered why Tyler Adams was speaking for every team, fellow US veteran Herculez Gomez demanded further explanation from the latter.

“I would’ve asked Tyler Adams, who is everybody? Because when you say that, you put into question the US Men’s National Team. You put in question the US Women’s National Team. You can question Bournemouth. Who is everybody? And you have to be very very careful when you say these things.”

Well, coming back to Canada, Priestman stepped aside from her duties before the New Zealand game. Team analyst Joseph Lombardi was also detained by the authorities in relation to the spying incident and held for three days before being given an eight-month suspended sentence.

Despite all this, Canada progressed till the quarter-finals and lost to Germany last night. With Adams’ claims still in the air, soccer fanatics might doubt Emma Hayes’s USWNT and other teams that are continuing their run at the Olympics. Besides, USMNT could also come under scrutiny, as Canada MNT is already under a drone use allegation. Hence, as Lala observed, it is high time that the former US skipper came clean. What do you think?