DPA
Paris
Canada have sent home two members of staff from their women’s Olympic football team and the coach will sit out a game after drones were used to spy on New Zealand practice in France.
Canada are the women’s Olympic champions from Tokyo and are due to play New Zealand in their first group game on Thursday.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said in a statement on Wednesday that while reviewing drone use from Monday in Saint-Étienne, it had learned about a second incident at New Zealand practice on Friday.
“Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately,” the statement added.
Assistant coach Jasmine Mander, who had dealings with suspected drone flyer Lombardi, will also be sent home immediately.
“COC has accepted the decision of Head Coach Bev Priestman to remove herself from coaching the match against New Zealand on July 25th.
Canada Soccer staff will undergo mandatory ethics training,” the statement continued.
“The COC is in contact with the IOC and in contact with FIFA. Canada Soccer has been transparent and cooperative throughout the process.
The COC will continue to review this matter and may take further action if necessary.”
New Zealand had lodged a complaint with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) integrity unit after a drone belonging to a staff member of the Canadian team was spotted flying over a training session for the Paris Olympics.
“Team support members immediately reported the incident to police, leading to the drone operator, who has been identified as a support staff member of the wider Canadian Women’s football team, to be detained,” the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) said.
“The NZOC and New Zealand Football are committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games and are deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident, which occurred just three days before the sides are due to face each other in their opening game of Paris 2024.”
The Olympics football tournament always starts earlier than the opening ceremony (Friday) because there are so many matches to fit in and two weeks is not enough.
