Disciplinary hearing results in admonishment for Herdman

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A disciplinary committee hearing sparked by the Olympic drone fraud scandal, ended with a former Canadian coach receiving written warnings.

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The disciplinary hearing, held by the three-person group independent of Canadian football, was conducted in Herdman’s reference to Sonia Regenbogen of law firms Mathews, Dinsdale and Clark.

Regenbogen’s independent review, commissioned by the Canadian Football Council and released in editorial form in November, concluded that it was clearly “a practice of secret surveillance on opponents”, which was early in the Paris Olympics.

At the time, the Canadian Football Game said it “proposed a procedure for Mr. Heardman under its code of discipline.”

“The former head coach of the men’s national team has a potential violation of Canadian football behavior and ethics,” Canadian Football said in November.

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The first news of the Disciplinary Committee findings was in a statement provided to Canadian media on Friday night by Herdman.

Canadian Football then confirmed that the Disciplinary Committee had issued a decision.

“This afternoon, the Independent Commission issued a decision on allegations of John Heardman’s misconduct,” a Canadian football spokesman said in a statement to the Canadian media. “The Independent Commission informed the parties that it discovered that Mr Heardman committed misconduct under the Canadian Football Disciplinary Code.

“The Committee determines that appropriate sanctions are an admonition and informs the parties that their decision is final and binding. Canadian Football is still analyzing the Commission’s decision.”

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Canadian Football has not issued the committee’s decision yet, so it cannot provide full details of its discovery.

The drone scandal has allowed women’s coach Bev Priestman, assistant coach Jast Jasmine Mander and analyst Joey Lombardi to work in Canadian football. Currently, all three are currently serving in FIFA for one year, and Lombardy resigned from his Canadian football position shortly after the Olympics.

Herdman is a former Canadian male and female coach who was charged under Section 7E of the Code of Conduct and Ethics, which quotes: “Any conduct or statement in oral or written form is considered non-competitive, insulting or misconduct, or may turn the game into a failure.”

Under Canadian football disciplines, sanctions available to the Discipline Hearing Commission range from written notice to lifelong suspension.

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Heardman got this lighter end.

“I acknowledge the decision of the Disciplinary Committee, which, with a cautionary conclusion, has no suspension or fines and has concluded the matter,” Heardman said in his four statements.

“I led throughout my career with integrity, transparency and a deep respect for the game,” he added. “That has not changed. I collaborated throughout the process, including giving a complete and transparent speech to the Discipline Committee.

“Although this was a very challenging time, I am proud of the time in Canadian football and the achievements we have achieved together. I look forward to continuing to travel through the game. I am still focused on my passion – the full potential of coaching, coaching and helping the team.”

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Hedman also cited his “deep gratitude to the players and staff who stood by me in the process”.

He added: “You are willing to stand up and defend the culture we have built together is invaluable. We have built a united team with respect and shared values ​​and I appreciate your support.”

Herdman resigned as coach of the Toronto Football Club on November 29, saying it was “the right time for me to leave the club when the organization defines its vision for the future.”

His departure is related to the Canadian football investigation.

Herdman was a former Canadian female and male coach and was associated with spy culture in Canadian football.

When the report was finally presented, he did not have the fact that he had an independent review of the Olympics and the author Regenbogen, who conducted an independent review of the Olympics and “anything related matters of history.”

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A source who has no right to speak on the matter said Heardman had offered to talk to Regenbogen, but the two couldn’t find the right time.

Last summer, the FIFA Appeal Board ruling also allowed Heardman to compete with the team with zero ball in Canadian football.

“Canada is investigating the history of this matter, but we suspect that the use of drones would be restored to John Herdman when John Herdman was head coach of the Women’s National Team. In other words, it was a practice started by one person (a practice started by John Herdman) and continued by Bev Priestman.”

Heardman spoke hardly about the scandal.

“I can clarify again that at the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, the Youth World Cup, these activities have not been done yet,” he said in July. “And I have nothing to say about it.”

Herdman has kept a low profile since he quits TFC.

Herdman took over the Canadian women’s team in 2011 and turned to the Canadian men in January 2018. He withdrew from Canadian football in August 2023 and took over the Toronto Football Club.

He led Canadian women to two Olympic Games, won bronze medals in 2012 and 2016, and brought Canadian men to the 2022 World Cup football tournament in Qatar, their first showcase for the sport since 1986.

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