Canada women's football coach Bev Priestman was suspended and removed from the team on Friday in the wake of a drone-spying scandal and the head of Canada Soccer said he was investigating a potential “systemic ethical shortcoming.”

Kevin Blue, Canada Soccer's CEO and general secretary, emphasised that the players were not involved in any unethical behaviour at the Paris Games. The team is currently training in Saint-Etienne.

“At the moment we are trying to directly address what appears to look like it could be a systemic ethical shortcoming, in a way that's frankly, unfortunately painful right now, but is turning out to be a necessary part of the rehabilitation process,” Blue said.

Priestman's future with the team is “pending the outcome of our review of this matter entirely," Blue said.

“Upon gathering more information from that review, that will be an additional opportunity to see what steps additionally need to be taken, if any,” Blue said.

Earlier in the day, Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive David Shoemaker told reporters in Paris that Priestman was likely aware that drones were used to spy on New Zealand's practices in France. Priestman has denied the allegations.

Blue also said he learned of a possible drone incident involving the men's national team at Copa America. He said it was his understanding that it did not have an impact on the competitive integrity of the competition.

Asked whether men's coach Jesse Marsch was aware of possible drone usage at that tournament that ended earlier this month, Blue said Marsch was aware after the fact and has “denounced it as a practice to his staff.”

The Canadian women defeated New Zealand 2-1 in the team's opener on Thursday.