Canada Soccer Scandal: Drone Spying Incident - Immediate Dismissals - Drama at Paris Olympics

In a shocking development, an analyst and an assistant coach associated with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and sent home immediately, according to a statement from the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC).

This decision comes just before the start of the Paris Olympics, highlighting the seriousness of the incident.

On Wednesday, the COC announced that Joseph Lombardi, described as "an unaccredited analyst with Soccer Canada," and assistant coach Jasmine Mander were removed from the team and sent home.

The COC emphasized their ongoing cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA, indicating that further actions could follow as the review progresses.

The controversy began when the COC revealed on Tuesday that a "non-accredited member of the Canada Soccer support team" had been detained by local authorities in Saint-Étienne, a city near Lyon, France.

The individual was accused of using a drone to record the New Zealand women's football team during practice.

This complaint, lodged by the New Zealand team on July 22, prompted swift action from the COC.

The COC expressed their disappointment: "The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair play and we are shocked and disappointed."

This sentiment was echoed by the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC), which issued a statement on July 23 condemning the incident and affirming its commitment to integrity and fairness.

As a consequence of this incident, the Canadian team's head coach, Bev Priestman, has decided to withdraw from an upcoming match against New Zealand on Thursday.

"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 stated.

She added, "I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program. Accordingly, to emphasize our team's commitment to integrity, I have decided to voluntarily withdraw from coaching the match on Thursday."

In response to the situation, the COC has mandated ethics training for all Canada Soccer staff.

Carla Qualtrough, Canada's Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, supported the sanctions and the apologies made by the COC and Priestman.

She noted, "The actions of those involved do not reflect Canada's values or the values of sport."

This incident is not the first of its kind for Canada Soccer.

In 2021, during a FIFA World Cup qualifier in Toronto, the Honduran men's soccer team reported seeing a drone hovering over their training session.

At that time, then-coach John Herdman commented on the prevalence of drones and the need for caution regarding potential surveillance.

As the Canadian and New Zealand women's soccer teams prepare to face each other on Thursday at 11 a.m. Central European Time (5 a.m. EDT) in their opening match of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the focus shifts to the potential consequences for Canada Soccer.

Experts like Mount Allison University women's soccer coach Derek O'Keeffe and soccer journalist John Molinaro have weighed in on the possible repercussions, suggesting that while expulsion from the tournament seems unlikely, there could be suspensions or financial penalties.

Former professional soccer player and coach Costa Elles emphasized the significant advantage that spying on a practice can provide, underscoring the gravity of the incident.

Despite the controversy, the hope remains that the Canadian team can move forward with integrity and focus on their Olympic performance.