Canada women’s football manager Beverly Priestman will not oversee her team’s opening Olympic match against New Zealand after two members of her staff were sent home for allegedly flying a drone over the Kiwis’ training session.
Priestman, 38, has “voluntarily withdrawn” from Thursday’s match in St Etienne following a report by the New Zealand Olympic Committee that a drone was observed over their training session on Monday.
Jasmine Mander, Priestman’s assistant, and “unaccredited analyst” Joseph Lombardi have been sent home. The Canadian Olympic Committee stated that a scouting report prepared by Lombardi was sent to Mander.
Priestman has accepted responsibility for the actions of her colleagues.
“I first and foremost want to apologise 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,” Priestman said.
“I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program.”
The COC confirmed on Wednesday that a “non-accredited member of the Canada Soccer support team” was detained by authorities.
“The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair play and we are shocked and disappointed,” it added in a statement.
“We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected, and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee.”
The NZOC said it has “formally lodged the incident with the IOC integrity unit and has asked Canada for a full review”.
“The NZOC and New Zealand Football are committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games and are deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident.”
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