Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 soccer coach Bev Priestman removed herself from ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 Olympic Games opener against New Zealand and two team staff members were sent home after two drone incidents.
Assistant coach Jasmine Mander, from North Delta, and Canada Soccer analyst Joseph Lombardi were ousted from the soccer teamB次元官网网址檚 staff, the Canadian Olympic Committee said Wednesday in a statement in which it accepted PriestmanB次元官网网址檚 decision to not coach the opener in Saint-Etienne, France.
The shakeup came after the COCB次元官网网址檚 review of a drone incidents in Saint-Etienne. There were reports that drones flew over New ZealandB次元官网网址檚 practice sessions both Monday and last Friday.
B次元官网网址淚 am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program,B次元官网网址� Priestman said in WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 statement. B次元官网网址淎ccordingly, to emphasize our teamB次元官网网址檚 commitment to integrity, I have decided to voluntarily withdraw from coaching the match on Thursday. In the spirit of accountability, I do this with the interests of both teams in mind and to ensure everyone feels that the sportsmanship of this game is upheld.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淥n 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.B次元官网网址�
The COC also said that Canada Soccer staff will be required to undergo mandatory ethics training.
Canada is the defending Olympic champion in womenB次元官网网址檚 soccer after capturing gold three years ago in Tokyo. New Zealand is ranked 28th in the world.
New ZealandB次元官网网址檚 Olympic Committee alerted police after a drone was flown over the womenB次元官网网址檚 soccer team practice Monday, and the COC confirmed Tuesday that a B次元官网网址渘on-accreditedB次元官网网址� member of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 soccer team staff was detained by French authorities.
The NZOC also registered a complaint with the International Olympic CommitteeB次元官网网址檚 integrity unit and had asked Canada for a full review.
The COC apologized to the NZOC and that countryB次元官网网址檚 soccer federation, stating it was B次元官网网址渟hocked and disappointedB次元官网网址� over the conduct.
ItB次元官网网址檚 not the first time a Canadian soccer team has been involved in a drone controversy involving an international rivalB次元官网网址檚 training session.
In 2021 at Toronto, Honduras stopped a training session ahead of its menB次元官网网址檚 World Cup qualifier against Canada after spotting a drone above the field, according to reports in Honduran media. The teams played to a 1-1 draw.
French security forces guarding Paris 2024 sites are intercepting an average of six drones per day, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said Tuesday.
Attal added the drones are often operated by B次元官网网址渋ndividuals, maybe tourists wanting to take pictures.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why itB次元官网网址檚 important to remind people of the rules. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a ban on flying drones,B次元官网网址� he said, according to multiple news outlets.
B次元官网网址淪ystems are in place to allow us to very quickly intercept (drones) and arrest their operators.B次元官网网址�
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