By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Canadian national women’s soccer team was recently involved in a spying scandal involving their Olympic Group A opponent New Zealand.
According to the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), members of the Canadian soccer team were responsible for the drone sent to spy on New Zealand’s training session held in Saint-Etienne, France.
The incident happened earlier this week during New Zealand’s practice sessions in preparation for their Paris Olympics campaign against Canada.
According to multiple reports, the French police captured the drone that was flying over the stadium perimeter and slapped one of the members with a suspended eight-month prison sentence.
After the incident, the New Zealand Olympic Committee reported what transpired to the police and filed an immediate complaint to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) integrity unit and FIFA.
In a statement released by the COC, they shared that the Canadian women’s soccer team is currently working hand-in-hand with authorities and they have been transparent and cooperative.
As a result, Canada’s head coach Bev Priestman voluntarily withdrew from coaching their game against New Zealand, stating that she is the one responsible for her management’s misbehavior.
“On behalf of our entire team, I first and foremost 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,” Priestman said.
The Disciplinary Committee of FIFA then began opening proceedings against Priestman, and the two members of the team involved, Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander.
“It’s ultimately compromised, I think, the integrity of our match. We’re controlling what we can control. It’s an overwhelming feeling of disappointment, and I know the players are feeling the same,” said New Zealand interim head coach Michael Mayne in an interview with The Canadian Press.
