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The Canadian women’s soccer team will begin its gold medal defense with a scandal.
At least one Canadian soccer staffer flew a drone over New Zealand’s practices in Saint-Etienne this week ahead of their game Thursday.
Joseph Lombardi, an analyst with the team, and Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach, were both removed from the Olympic team and sent home, the Canadian Olympic Committee said in a statement; Lombardi reported to Mander. Head coach Bev Priestman has removed herself from coaching against New Zealand in the Group A opener Thursday.
Police saw the drone and arrested Lombardi on Monday, and he admitted to spying on the New Zealand team that day and over the weekend. Cops also interviewed Mander, who denied having anything to do with it. Lombardi pleaded guilty to a charge related to flying an illegal drone and accepted an eight-month suspended sentence and a 45,000-euro fine, according to the CBC.
The Canadian Olympic Committee confirmed Lombardi operated the drone “to record the New Zealand women’s football team practice.”
The COC said Team Canada’s staff will undergo “mandatory ethics training,” and apologized to New Zealand’s players, federation and the International Olympic Committee expressing its shock and disappointment.
“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,” Priestman said in a statement. “I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program.”
Priestman denied overseeing the drone scheme, but dodged questions about what she knew about it. “By no means did I direct the individuals,” she told the CBC.
New Zealand’s Olympic Committee filed a formal complaint with the International Olympic Committee and asked for a “full review.” The IOC said it “welcomes the actions announced today by the Canadian Olympic Committee,” and that it “is looking into it,” in a statement released Wednesday.
“At the Olympic Games,” the IOC added, “we expect all the teams to behave and compete with respect.” FIFA said it is investigating.
Drones have been an early story of the Olympics as French prime minister Gabriel Attal said Tuesday that six drones per day have been intercepted at Olympic sites, mostly from tourists.
Women’s soccer starts play Thursday, with Canada and New Zealand opening Group A play at 5 p.m. local time/11 a.m. ET. France and Colombia are also in their group.
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