The Canadian women’s football team have sacked an assistant coach and another staff member after New Zealand complained to the International Olympic Committee that a drone was used to spy on their training session.
Head coach Bev Priestman also removed herself from coaching the team against New Zealand despite declaring she “did not direct” the individuals.
Staff from New Zealand’s team — the Football Ferns — noticed a drone flying above their training session in St Etienne on Monday.
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Reporting it to police, the operator was identified as a supporting staff member of Canada’s team.
In a further twist to the saga, the Canadian Olympic Committee also confirmed a drone had also been used undetected at a previous NZ training session three days earlier.
Canada are the reigning Olympic champions and New Zealand’s first opponents at the Paris Games, on Friday morning (AEST).
“Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately,” the COC said in a statement.
“Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach to whom Mr Lombardi reports to, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately.”
Lombardi, who had been detained by police, was handed an eight-month suspended jail term and his material was confiscated, a French court said.
FIFA said they had opened proceedings against Canada Soccer, Priestman, Lombardi and Mander due to a potential breach of the body’s disciplinary code.
“The matter will be submitted for the consideration of the Disciplinary Committee in the next days,” FIFA said in a statement.
A statement issued by the New Zealand Olympic Committee said they were “deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident” and wanted answers.
“The NZOC has formally lodged the incident with the IOC integrity unit and has asked Canada for a full review,” the statement read.
“The NZOC and New Zealand Football are committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games.”
New Zealand Football issued its own complaint to FIFA, reportedly requesting that Canada are stripped of points should they win the match.
“There is no place for this type of action in football and it is critical that urgent action is undertaken to address this integrity breach,” CEO Andrew Pragnell said on Wednesday morning.
“To hear now that the Canadian team had filmed secret footage of our team training at least twice is incredibly concerning and if not treated urgently could have wider implications for the integrity of the tournament.
“We note that there have been some admissions by the Canadian Nation Olympic Committee, and they have taken their own sanctions against the Canadian team.
“However, considering the seriousness of the situation, and the potential implications to the sporting integrity of the entire tournament, we have referred the matter to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee seeking urgent action.”
Earlier, Priestman apologised for the offence.
“On behalf of our entire team, I first and foremost want to apologise to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and to the players on Team Canada,” she said.
“This does not represent the values that our team stands for. I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program.
“Accordingly, to emphasise our team’s commitment to integrity, I have decided to voluntarily withdraw from coaching the match on Thursday (Friday AEST).
“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.”
– with Reuters
