Canada’s Olympic women’s football team is facing a major controversy just days before their opening match against New Zealand. Head coach Beverly Priestman has “voluntarily withdrawn” from leading the team for Thursday’s game in St. Etienne after a drone incident involving members of her staff.
Alleged Spying with a Drone
The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) reported that a drone was flown over their team’s training session on Monday. This sparked an investigation, leading to the identification and dismissal of two members of the Canadian backroom staff.
Jasmine Mander, Priestman’s assistant coach, has been sent home alongside “unaccredited analyst” Joseph Lombardi. According to the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), a scouting report compiled by Lombardi was allegedly sent to Mander.
Despite not being directly involved, Priestman has taken full responsibility for the actions of her colleagues. “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.”
Official Statements and Investigation
The COC confirmed that a “non-accredited member of the Canada Soccer support team” was detained by authorities. Both the COC and the NZOC have expressed strong disapproval of the incident.
“The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair play and we are shocked and disappointed,” the COC stated. They offered apologies to New Zealand Football, the players involved, and the NZOC.
The NZOC has taken further action, “formally lodging the incident with the IOC integrity unit and has asked Canada for a full review.” They emphasized their commitment to upholding the integrity of the Olympic Games and expressed deep disappointment with the alleged spying attempt.
With the head coach stepping down and two staff members dismissed, Canada’s Olympic campaign has gotten off to a rocky start. It remains to be seen who will lead the team for their crucial opening match against New Zealand and how this incident will impact their performance and overall morale.
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