The defending Olympic champion Canadian women’s soccer team has become embroiled in a drone spying scandal that will see its head coach not present for the team’s match tomorrow and two staffers have been sent home.
Canada is set to kick off the women’s soccer tournament against New Zealand tomorrow but will have to do so without their coach. Yesterday, New Zealand lodged a formal complaint to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) alleging that a Canadian soccer “support staff member” flew a drone over their training session on Monday, ESPN reports.
The individual flying the drone was detained by French authorities and Canada’s team did issue an apology. the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said it was “shocked and disappointed” by the news and would launch its own investigation.
The spying incident is violates rules on two fronts. Firstly, drones are banned around Paris already and that law is being strictly enforced during the Olympics, The Verge reports. Secondly, spying is obviously a violation of Olympics rules.
“On behalf of our entire team, I first and foremost want to apologize to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and to the players on Team Canada. This does not represent the values that our team stands for,” Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach Bev Priestman says.
“I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program. Accordingly, to emphasize our team’s commitment to integrity, I have decided to voluntarily withdraw from coaching the match on Thursday. In the spirit of accountability, I do this with the interests of both teams in mind and to ensure everyone feels that the sportsmanship of this game is upheld.”
The COC issued a statement today highlighting four sanctions and consequences it will enforce as a result of the news. First, Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately. Next, Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach to whom Mr. Lombardi report sent, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately. Thirdly, Priestman removed herself from coaching the match against New Zealand on July 25th. Finally, Canada Soccer staff will undergo mandatory ethics training.
Image credits: Elements of header photo licensed via Depositphotos.