The new head coach of Indonesia's national team was once involved in a cheating scandal but narrowly avoided severe punishment.

Coach John Herdman carries a significant blemish in his career from his time leading the Canadian national team, stemming from a scandal involving the use of drones to spy on opponents.

According to Bola Sport (Indonesia), the English coach did not come to the position of Indonesia’s national team head coach with a spotless record.The PSSI was close to announcing John Herdman as the new national team coach. Herdman was once considered a major signing due to his success in leading Canada to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. However, he left Canadian football amid lingering controversies.

At the 2024 Olympics, the Canadian team was involved in a serious scandal when it was discovered they used drones to monitor opponents' training sessions. Three individuals, including head coach Bev Priestman, assistant Jasmine Mander, and analyst Joey Lombardi, were banned by FIFA for one year for this cheating behavior.

Canada Soccer later revealed that these actions began while John Herdman was still in charge. Sportsnet.ca wrote in May 2025: “Canada Soccer not only launched an independent investigation but also informed FIFA that the Canadian team’s use of drones to spy on opponents was initiated during Herdman’s period.”

Due to this misconduct, Sportsnet.ca stated that Herdman once faced the risk of a lifetime ban from Canadian football. Sportsnet wrote: “The Code of Ethics of Canada Soccer stipulates various disciplinary measures that could be applied to Herdman. Among them is a lifetime ban from working in Canadian football.”

However, according to Bola Sport, the final decision by Canada Soccer in March 2025 was a minimal penalty. Herdman left the Canadian team in 2023 and coached Toronto FC in 2024. Canada Soccer’s announcement stated: “The Independent Disciplinary Committee has issued a decision regarding the ethical violations of John Herdman. The committee concluded that John Herdman breached Canada Soccer’s disciplinary code.”

Bola Sport reported that Herdman was confirmed to have committed cheating by spying on opponents while coaching Canada. Compared to his successor as Canada’s women’s coach, Bev Priestman, who received a one-year ban, Herdman’s punishment was considerably lighter.

Canada Soccer added: “The committee decided on an appropriate disciplinary action: a letter of reprimand, and declared this decision final and binding.” After avoiding the harshest penalty in Canada, Herdman now has a new role elsewhere in the world, leading the Indonesia national team.