The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women’s national soccer team coach Bev Priestman from her role as coach for the remainder of the Paris Olympics after staff members were accused of using drones to spy on opponents.
Two members of Canada’s team, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi, were “summoned home” after they were accused of using a drone to spy on New Zealand training.
Canada beat New Zealand 2-1 on Thursday.
Priestman, who denies any involvement, initially volunteered to quit the club before the committee’s decision.
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Canada head coach Bev Priestman during a game against Mexico at BMO Field on June 4, 2024 in Toronto. (Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
But the New Zealand incident is not the only issue of concern: “Additional information has come to our attention that drones have been used against opponents prior to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games,” Canada Soccer Federation CEO and Executive Director Kevin Blue said in a statement from the COC.
Blue added that Priestman would be suspended from his duties until the tournament had concluded and an independent, external investigation into the association had been completed.
Lombardi, 43, was arrested on Monday after allegedly flying a drone over Auguste Dury Stadium to film two closed-door training sessions for New Zealand. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight months in prison.
The COC identified Lombardi as a “non-accredited analyst for the Canadian Soccer Association.”
Canada head coach Beverley Priestman gestures during the team’s 2024 CONCACAF World Gold Cup quarterfinal match against Costa Rica at BMO Stadium on March 2, 2024 in Los Angeles. (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
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“The Canadian Olympic Committee believes in fair play and is shocked and disappointed,” the committee said in a statement. “We offer our sincere apologies to the New Zealand Football Union, all the players affected and the New Zealand Olympic Committee.”
Priestman was hired in November 2020 to replace Kenneth Heiner-Moller on a standing contract after leading Canada to a gold medal at the 2021 Olympics, but the team was eliminated in the group stage of last year’s Women’s World Cup.
In her initial statement, she said she was “ultimately responsible for the actions taken within our program.”
She coached the team to 28 wins, 9 losses and 10 ties.
Canada head coach Bev Priestman talks with her team after the She Believes Cup match against Brazil at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on April 6, 2024 in Atlanta. (Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
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Canada is in Group A with hosts France and Colombia.
Fox News reporter Paulina Deday and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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