The Canadian women’s soccer team has fired an assistant coach and another staff member after New Zealand filed a complaint with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). that a drone was used to spy on their training session.
Head coach Bev Priestman has also withdrawn from the team’s training against New Zealand.
Staff from New Zealand’s Football Ferns team noticed a drone flying over their training session in Saint-Etienne on Monday.
After reporting the incident to police, the operator was identified as a member of the Canadian team’s support staff.
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The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) later confirmed that assistant coach Jasmine Mander and an analyst had been kicked off the Games team following the incident.
Canada are the reigning Olympic champions and New Zealand’s first opponents at the Paris Games on Friday morning (AEST).
“Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited Canada Soccer analyst, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately,” the COC said in a statement.
“Jasmine Mander, Mr. Lombardi’s assistant coach, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic team and will be sent home immediately.”
Lombardi, who was arrested by police, was given an eight-month suspended prison sentence and his equipment was confiscated, a French court said.
FIFA announced that it has opened proceedings against Canada Soccer, Priestman, Lombardi and Mander for a potential violation of the body’s disciplinary code.
“The case will be submitted to the Disciplinary Committee for review in the coming days,” FIFA said in a statement.
In a statement, the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) said it was “deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident” and wanted answers.
“NZOC has formally filed the incident with the IOC Integrity Unit and requested a full review from Canada,” the statement read.
“NZOC and Football New Zealand are committed to maintaining the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games.”
The priest apologized for the offense.
“On behalf of our entire team, I would first and foremost like to apologise to the players and staff of the New Zealand football team and to the players of the Canadian team,” she said.
“This does not represent the values our team stands for. I am solely responsible for the conduct of the members of our program.”
PAA
