Canada head coach withdraws, two sent home amid Olympics spy drone scandal

Defending Olympic women’s football champions Canada have been left in turmoil after coach Bev Priestman withdrew from their opening match against New Zealand and two staff members were sent home amid a spying scandal.

Canadian Olympic chiefs apologised on Wednesday, Paris time, after a member of team staff was detained by French authorities over allegations that they used a drone to record New Zealand training on two occasions.

Canada coach Bev Priestman, pictured in France this week ahead of the Olympics, has stood aside for the match against New Zealand amid a spying scandal.Credit: AP

The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) issued a statement acknowledging that “a non-accredited member of the Canada Soccer support team was detained by French authorities” following a complaint by New Zealand Football.

Canada, who are the defending Olympic champions in women’s football, face New Zealand in a group match in the Olympic tournament in St Etienne on Thursday, Paris time, with Priestman voluntarily standing down and two other members of staff sent home.

Priestman said in a statement: “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. 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.

“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 said Joseph Lombardi, who they said was “an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer”, is being removed from the team and sent home immediately, along with Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach to whom Lombardi reports. The COC added that it was in contact with the International Olympic Committee and FIFA.

In its initial statement, the COC said it stood for “fair play” and that they were “shocked and disappointed” by the allegations.

“We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected, and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee.”

The New Zealand Olympic Committee said that it was “deeply shocked and disappointed” by the situation. “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,” a statement said.

“The NZOC has formally lodged the incident with the IOC integrity unit and has asked Canada for a full review. Team Canada has issued an apology and is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

French security forces at Paris 2024 sites are intercepting an average of six drones every day, according to French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

Attal said that the droves were often operated by tourists wanting to take pictures.

“That’s why it’s important to remind people of the rules – there’s a ban on flying drones,” he said.

“Systems are in place to allow us to very quickly intercept (drones) and arrest their operators.”

Telegraph.co.uk

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