Canada coach Beverly Priestman takes pictures on the field at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in preparation for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Saint-Etienne, France.
14:40 JST, July 25, 2024
Canada women’s national soccer coach Bev Priestman announced Wednesday that she will not participate in the team’s opening match against New Zealand at the Paris Olympics due to a drone scandal.
New Zealand complained to the International Olympic Committee’s integrity unit after drones flew over closed training sessions earlier in the week. Canada, the reigning Olympic champions, were due to open the Games in Paris on Thursday against New Zealand in Saint-Etienne.
Two staff members — Canada Soccer assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi — have been sent home following the complaint, the Canadian Olympic Committee said Wednesday.
Priestman said she voluntarily withdrew from the season opener “with the best interests of both teams in mind and to ensure everyone feels the sportsmanship of this game is being upheld.”
In a statement, Priestman also apologized to New Zealand.
On behalf of our entire team, I would like to first apologize to the players and staff of New Zealand Football and to the players of Team Canada, she said. “This does not represent the values that our team stands for.”
Assistant coach Andy Spence will lead Canada in the season opener.
Priestman also spoke briefly to reporters after training.
“I absolutely did not direct the individuals,” she said. “I’m still learning the details and this is clearly all happening. But again, I think the most important thing now is to look forward, put the actions in place and take the sanctions.”
FIFA, the international soccer governing body, said its disciplinary committee had opened hearings against Canada Soccer, Priestman, Lombardi and Mander. Canada Soccer announced Wednesday night that it would conduct an independent investigation.
The COC confirmed Tuesday that an unaccredited member of the Canadian soccer team’s staff was arrested by French authorities after a drone was spotted above a training session.
A French court on Wednesday sentenced a 43-year-old Canadian man to an eight-month suspended prison sentence for filming two closed training sessions in New Zealand using a cherry picker.
The man, who was not named, confessed to the charges and identified himself as an independent sports analyst for the Canadian federation, said Saint Etienne prosecutor David Charmatz.
The COC also apologized to the New Zealand Olympic Committee and New Zealand Football.
The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair play and we are shocked and disappointed, the statement said. “We sincerely apologize to New Zealand Football, to all players affected and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee.”
The NZOC said it and New Zealand Football “are committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games. At this time, the NZOC’s main priority is to support the female athletes of the New Zealand football team and the wider team as they begin their campaign.”
This isn’t the first time a Canadian soccer team has been embroiled in a controversy involving a drone during a practice with an international rival.
In Toronto in 2021, Honduras halted a training session ahead of the men’s World Cup qualifier against Canada after spotting a drone flying over the pitch, according to Honduran media reports. The teams drew 1-1.
