Football
Canadian football team embroiled in Paris Olympics drone spying scandal: Know more
Paris: In a dramatic turn of events at the Olympics, Canada’s women’s football team faced repercussions on Wednesday following a spying scandal involving an assistant coach and an analyst. Joey Lombardi, the 43-year-old analyst, was sent home and received a suspended eight-month prison sentence for using a drone to surveil a New Zealand training session in Saint-Etienne. He admitted guilt during a court appearance on Wednesday, according to reports from Saint-Etienne.
Jasmine Mander, the assistant coach to whom Lombardi reported, was also implicated in the incident. As a result, head coach Bev Priestman made the decision to refrain from participating in Canada’s opening match of their gold medal defense against New Zealand on Thursday.
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The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) responded swiftly, stating they are in communication with both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA. They affirmed Canada Soccer’s cooperation and transparency throughout the investigation. The COC indicated they would continue to assess the situation and may take additional actions as deemed necessary.
The controversy unfolded after French authorities detained a staff member for operating the drone in an attempt to gather intelligence on New Zealand’s tactics. Subsequently, New Zealand Football formally lodged a complaint with the IOC integrity unit, demanding answers from Canada.
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Expressing regret over the incident, Coach Priestman issued an apology to New Zealand Football and her own team, emphasizing that such actions do not align with the values upheld by their program. Taking responsibility, she decided to voluntarily withdraw from coaching the upcoming match to underscore the team’s commitment to integrity.
New Zealand Football reacted promptly, referring the matter to FIFA’s disciplinary committee for urgent action. Chief Executive Andrew Pragnell condemned the spying as a serious breach of integrity within football, warning of potential broader implications for the tournament’s credibility.
The unfolding scandal has cast a shadow over the Olympic football competition, underscoring the stringent measures required to uphold fair play and respect among competing nations. AFP
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