Canada football staff sent home over Olympic drone scandal

AFP | Paris

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An assistant coach and an analyst with the Canadian women’s football team were sent home from the Olympics for their part in a spying scandal. The analyst, 43-year-old Joey Lombardi, was also given a suspended eight-month prison sentence for flying a drone over a New Zealand training session this week in Saint-Etienne.

Lombardi pleaded guilty when he appeared in court in Saint-Etienne on Wednesday, the court said. The assistant coach was Jasmine Mander, to whom Lombardi reported. Head coach Bev Priestman also announced she will take no part in the opening game of Canada’s gold medal defence, against New Zealand.

“The COC is in contact with the IOC and in contact with FIFA. Canada Soccer has been transparent and cooperative throughout the process,” the COC said. “The COC will continue to review this matter and may take further action if necessary.”

The decisions come after a staff member was detained by French authorities for flying the drone in a bid to spy on New Zealand’s tactics. The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said it had since learned of a second incident involving New Zealand, who formally lodged a complaint with the IOC integrity unit and demanded answers from Canada.

Priestman said she did not think it would be appropriate to be on the bench for the clash against New Zealand. “On behalf of our entire team, I first and foremost want to apologise to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and to the players on Team Canada,” she said.