The assistant head coach and an analyst for the Canada women’s soccer team have been kicked off the roster after a spying scandal erupted at the Paris Olympics. Head coach Bev Priestman will also miss her side’s opening game against New Zealand on Thursday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) confirmed, after her staff were caught hovering a drone above their opponents’ training session.
On Monday, a little over 72 hours before their matchup with the Canucks, the drone was spotted above the New Zealand squad’s base in Saint Etienne. The incident was subsequently reported to police, who uncovered the the operator of the spy craft as a member of the Canadian support staff. An investigation by the COC uncovered a further drone incident three days earlier, leading to them removing two staff members from their setup. Canada Soccer staff are also due to undergo mandatory ethics training.
“Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately,” said a COC statement. “Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach to whom Mr. Lombardi reports, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately.”
FIFA have…
