July 25 – The Canadian women’s Olympic football team have sacked an assistant coach and another staff member after New Zealand complained to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that a drone was used to spy on their training session.
Staff from New Zealand’s team – the Football Ferns – noticed a drone flying above their training session in St Etienne on Monday.
Reporting it to police, the operator was identified as a supporting staff member of Canada’s team.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) later confirmed that assistant coach Jasmine Mander and an analyst were kicked out following the incident.
Canada are the reigning Olympic champions and New Zealand’s first opponents at the Paris Games on Friday
“Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately,” the COC said in a statement.
“Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach to whom Mr Lombardi reports to, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately.”
Lombardi, who had been detained by police, was handed an eight-month suspended jail term and his material was confiscated, a French court said.
FIFA said they had opened proceedings against Canada Soccer, Canada head coach Bev Priestman (pictured), Lombardi and Mander due to a potential breach of the body’s disciplinary code.
“The matter will be submitted for the consideration of the Disciplinary Committee in the next days,” FIFA said in a statement.
The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) said they were “deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident” and wanted answers. “The NZOC has formally lodged the incident with the IOC integrity unit and has asked Canada for a full review.”
“The NZOC and New Zealand Football are committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games.”
Priestman immediately removed herself from duties for tonight’s game against New Zealand.
“On…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/07/25/canada-send-two-home-drone-scandal-fifa-opens-disciplinary-case/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-07-25 09:14:28
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.