Canada Women’s Football Team Staff Sent Home Over Olympic Scandal

An assistant coach and an analyst with the Canadian women’s football team were on Wednesday sent home from the Olympics for their part in a spying scandal.

Head coach, Bev Priestman, has also stated that she will not participate in Canada’s opening game as they defend their gold medal against New Zealand.

The decisions come after a staff member was detained by French authorities for flying a drone over a New Zealand training session this week in Saint Etienne.

The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) reported that it has become aware of an incident involving New Zealand, which has officially filed a complaint with the IOC integrity unit and demanded answers from Canada.

“The COC is in contact with the IOC and 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.”

It named the staff members sent home as Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, and Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach to whom Lombardi reported.

Priestman said she did not think it would be appropriate to be on the bench for the clash against New Zealand on Thursday.

“On behalf of our entire team, I first and foremost want to apologize to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and the players on Team Canada,” she said.

“This does not represent the values that our team stands for.

“I am ultimately responsible for the conduct of our program. Accordingly, to emphasize our team’s commitment to integrity, I have decided to voluntarily withdraw from coaching the match on Thursday.”