An assistant coach and an analyst from the Canadian women’s football team were sent home from the Olympics on Wednesday, following a controversial incident involving an unauthorized drone flight over a New Zealand training session.
Head coach Bev Priestman announced she would not participate in Canada’s opening match against New Zealand as part of the team’s gold medal defense. This decision comes in response to the Australian authorities detaining a staff member amidst growing tensions and formal complaints from New Zealand to the IOC’s integrity unit regarding the matter.
The Canadian Olympic Committee confirmed it is in ongoing discussions with both the IOC and FIFA. They stated, “Canada Soccer has been transparent and cooperative throughout the process. The COC will continue to review this matter and may take further action if necessary.”
The staff members sent home were identified as Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst, and Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach. Priestman expressed her regret over the situation, stating, “On behalf of our entire team, I want to apologize to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and to the players on Team Canada. This does not represent the values that our team stands for.”
This unprecedented situation highlights the importance of integrity and professionalism as the Canadian team prepares for their critical match against New Zealand.
