Canadian soccer staff sent home over Olympics drone scandal

An assistant coach and an analyst for the Canadian women’s soccer team were sent home on Wednesday for their roles in a spying scandal. Head coach Bev Priestman also announced she would not play in Canada’s gold medal opener against New Zealand after a staff member was detained by French authorities for flying a drone over New Zealand’s training ground in Saint-Etienne this week. The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said it had since learned of a second incident involving New Zealand, which has filed a formal complaint with the IOC’s integrity unit and has asked Canada to respond.

“The Canadian Olympic Committee is in contact with the International Olympic Committee and FIFA. Canada Soccer has been transparent and cooperative throughout this process,” the Canadian Olympic Committee said.

“The Canadian Olympic Committee will continue to review this matter and may take further action if necessary.”

The report said the staff members who were deported were Joseph Lombardi, an uncertified analyst for the Canadian Soccer Association, and Jasmine Mander, Lombardi’s direct assistant coach.

Priestman said she did not feel she was fit to be on the bench for Thursday’s game against New Zealand.

“I want to first of all apologise on behalf of our entire team to the players and staff of the New Zealand football team and the players of the Canadian team,” she said.

“This does not represent the values ​​our team stands for.

“I take ultimate responsibility for the actions within our program. Therefore, in order to underscore our team’s commitment to integrity, I have decided to voluntarily step down from coaching Thursday’s game.”

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