Canada’s Olympic women’s soccer team has been dealt a blow just as play is set to start at the Paris games.
The Canadian Olympic Committee has released a statement regarding two drone incidents involving the team, one in Saint-Étienne and the other at a New Zealand practice.
The committee has imposed sanctions and consequences to several team members and staffers.
An unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, Joseph Lombardi, has been removed from the team and will be sent home immediately. It’s alleged he was using a drone equipped with a camera to record the New Zealand women’s football team during practice.
Assistant coach Jasmine Mander is also being sent home.
Head coach Bev Priestman has removed herself from coaching tomorrow’s opening game against New Zealand.
“On behalf of our entire team, I first and foremost want to apologize to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and to the players on Team Canada,” Preistman said in a statement.
“This does not represent the values that our team stands for.”
The committee says staff will undergo mandatory ethics training.
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