The Canadian women football team assistant coach and an analyst on Wednesday sent home from the 2024 Paris Olympics
Team Head coach Bev Priestman has also announced she will take no part in the opening game of Canada’s gold medal defense, against New Zealand. national team.
The decisions was as a result of one of the staff detained by French authorities for flying a drone over a New Zealand training session this week in Saint-Etienne.
The Canadian Olympic Committee said it had since learned of a second incident involving New Zealand, which formally lodged a complaint with the IOC integrity unit and demanded answers from Canada
“The COC is in contact with the IOC and in contact with FIFA. 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 COC said.
According to the Canada Olympic committee, the staff Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, and Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach to whom Lombardi reported has been sent back to Canada
Priestman said she did not think it would be appropriate to be on the bench for the clash against New Zealand on Thursday.
“In his statement,he said i apologize 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.
“I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our programme. Accordingly, to emphasize our team’s commitment to integrity, I have decided to voluntarily withdraw from coaching the match on Thursday,” she said.
