Canada’s Olympic women’s football team is in turmoil after officials were “shocked and disappointed” to learn drones were used to spy on their opponents. As part of the collateral damage, two staff with the women’s team have been “sent home immediately” and their head coach will be absent when Canada take on New Zealand in their Olympic opener on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said a “non-accredited member of the Canada Soccer support team” had been detained by French authorities in Saint-Étienne, a city 250 miles south of Paris, for improperly using a drone. The arrest follows a separate incident in which a drone was used to record New Zealand’s training sessions.
Head coach Bev Priestman, who led the Canadian team to gold three years ago in Tokyo, denied any involvement in the scheme – but said she would voluntarily “step aside” for the first game.
“Irrespective of the details, I’m ultimately accountable for this team,” Priestman said on Wednesday afternoon following a team practice. “By no means did I direct the individuals … I’m still learning the details and obviously this is all unfolding. But again, I think the important thing right now is to look forward, put the actions in place and take the sanctions.”
Fifa’s disciplinary committee has now opened proceedings against Canada Soccer and several individuals, including Priestman, amid the claims.
The COC said staff at the football team had been “transparent and cooperative throughout the process”. Assistant coach Andy Spence will be in charge of the defending champions when they face New Zealand.
The dramatic shake-up came after New Zealand’s Olympic Committee told the IOC that suspicious drones flew over team practices on two occasions.
“The NZOC and New Zealand Football are committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games and are deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident, which occurred just three days before the sides are due to face each other in their opening game of Paris 2024,” the sports body said in a statement.
Following the allegations, the COC investigated and subsequently removed assistant coach Jasmine Mander and Canada Soccer analyst Joseph Lombardi from the team’s staff and said they were “immediately sent home”.
Lombardi admitted to using the drone to capture New Zealand players carrying out instructions given by their coach. Mander was also interviewed by officials but denied any involvement in the recordings and was cleared of wrongdoing.
A 43-year-old Canadian man accepted an eight-month suspended sentence and confiscation of his seized equipment, after being charged with maintaining an unmanned aircraft over a prohibited area, according to a statement from a Saint-Etienne prosecutor that was translated by CBC.
The COC said that football staff will be required to undergo mandatory ethics training.
“Fair play is the highest principle of sport. The actions of those involved do not reflect Canada’s values or the values of sport,” Carla Qualtrough, Canada’s minister of sport and physical activity, wrote in a post on social media. “I support the sanctions being imposed by the Canadian Olympic Committee, their apologies to New Zealand, and the decision of Head Coach Bev Priestman … These decisive actions will help ensure that individuals are held accountable and preserve the integrity of the game and fair play for all athletes.”
The scandal has dampened spirits as Canada look to defend their Olympic title.
“Obviously it’s not ideal, especially with such a big tournament on the horizon,” Canadian centre back Vanessa Gilles told reporters. “But at the end of the day we’re all professionals. We’re all going to make the most out of the situation we’re put in. We’re going to lean on each other.”
