A drone scandal has hit the women’s soccer scene ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Two of the coaching staff of the Canadian women’s soccer team were sent home after being accused of using a drone to spy on the New Zealand team’s training session.
The drone operator, Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with the Canadian national team federation (Canada Soccer), was detained by French authorities and later repatriated. The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) reported this incident to the police. They said they were “extremely shocked and disappointed” by the breach of sporting integrity.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) also expressed shock and disappointment. They immediately took action by removing Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander from the Canadian Olympic team.
Lombardi (43 years old) was also given a suspended sentence of eight months in prison for flying a drone over New Zealand’s training session on Monday (22/7/2024) in Saint-Etienne. Bev Priestman, head coach of the Canadian women’s soccer team, voluntarily stepped down from coaching the team’s opening match against New Zealand as a form of responsibility for the incident.
“On behalf of our entire team, I first and foremost want to apologize to the New Zealand players and staff and the players on Team Canada,” Priestman said in a statement. “This does not represent the values our team stands for.”
The International Olympic Committee’s integrity unit was also notified of the incident, and FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Canada Soccer, Priestman, Lombardi, and Mander to investigate potential violations of FIFA regulations. The incident has cast a shadow over the Canadian team and the Olympic spirit of fair play.
Moreover, the NZOC and the New Zealand football federation have committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Game. Hence, they have submitted a formal complaint to the IOC integrity unit.
