What a great way to kick off the Olympics!
Earlier this week, a Canadian soccer staff member was arrested flying a drone over a New Zealand training session as the two teams prepare to face off on the opening day of the Paris 2024 women's soccer tournament.
in statement On Wednesday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) confirmed that “an unauthorised member of the Canada Soccer support team was detained by French authorities” after the incident. (Related: U.S. National Team Aims for the Stars: Another Elite Contender Mauricio Pochettino Takes Over as Manager: Report)
The Canadian Olympic Committee later added in a statement that assistant coach Jasmine Mander and non-official member Joseph Lombardi had both been removed from the Canadian delegation and sent home from the Olympics. Canada head coach Bev Priestman has served her own one-game suspension.
The COC and Priestman issued an apology to the New Zealand Football Union, the country's Olympic Committee and “all athletes affected”.
The New Zealand women's soccer team alleges the Canadian Soccer Association used a drone to monitor their training session in Saint-Etienne on Monday.
They have filed a formal complaint with the IOC.
Canada will face New Zealand on Thursday at 11 a.m. ET. #Paris2024https://t.co/m4VSkbwCPG— Shireen Ahmed (@_shireenahmed_) July 23, 2024
There have been two actual drone incidents, two Canadian coaches have returned home, Priestman will not coach the opening game, and the Canadian Soccer Association will undergo mandatory ethics training. pic.twitter.com/ut51hbUMrn
— Shireen Ahmed (@_shireenahmed_) July 24, 2024
Olympic soccer…that's how serious it is.
