- Joey Lombardi, an analyst, received a suspended prison sentence for flying a drone over New Zealand‘s training.
- Assistant coach Jasmine Mander and Lombardi were sent home.
- Head coach Bev Priestman stepped back from the opening game against New Zealand.
A major scandal has rocked the Canadian women’s football team at the Paris Olympics 2024. Analyst Joey Lombardi was caught using a drone to spy on New Zealand’s training session, resulting in a suspended eight-month prison sentence.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) has been in contact with both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA. They have emphasized their transparency and cooperation throughout the investigation.
Drone Scandal Forces Canadian Football Staff to Leave Paris Olympics
A scandal involving the use of a drone to spy on a rival team’s training has resulted in the departure of two members of the Canadian women’s football team staff from the Paris Olympics 2024. Joey Lombardi, the analyst responsible for the drone operation, was sentenced to a suspended eight-month prison term after pleading guilty. Assistant coach Jasmine Mander, to whom Lombardi reported, was also sent home.
Head coach Bev Priestman announced her decision to step away from coaching the opening game against New Zealand to uphold the team’s integrity. She issued a public apology to both the New Zealand players and staff, as well as the Canadian team, emphasizing that such actions do not reflect their values.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) has maintained open communication with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA, ensuring full cooperation during the investigation. The incident has prompted New Zealand Football to formally lodge a complaint and refer the case to FIFA‘s disciplinary committee, seeking urgent measures to address the integrity breach.
Andrew Pragnell, chief executive of New Zealand Football, expressed serious concern over the incident. He stressed the importance of immediate action to prevent any further implications on the tournament’s integrity. The scandal highlights the need for stringent measures to safeguard fair play in international competitions.
The drone scandal has cast a shadow over the Canadian women‘s football team’s participation in the Paris Olympics, highlighting the importance of maintaining integrity and fair play in sports.
“To hear now that the Canadian team had filmed secret footage of our team training at least twice is incredibly concerning and if not treated urgently could have wider implications for the integrity of the tournament.” – Andrew Pragnell, New Zealand Football Chief Executive
