Two Canada Soccer staff were sent home after an alleged drone incident just days before the 2024 Paris Olympics are set to begin.
Richmond-born Jasmine Mander, assistant coach of the Canadian women's soccer team, was sent home from France on July 24 along with Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, according to a Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) media statement.
Mander is currently a Delta resident and Lombardi is from Brampton, Ont.
On July 22, the French authorities detained a "non-accredited member" of the Canada Soccer support team in Saint-Étienne after receiving a complaint from New Zealand Football.
"The staff member is believed to have been using a drone to record the New Zealand women's football team during practice," reads the COC in an initial media statement on July 24.
However, it is unclear which staff member was detained.
The committee added they "stand for fair-play" and described the incident as shocking and disappointing.
"We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected, and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee," said the COC.
The COC proceeded to work with the International Olympic Committee, Paris 2024, Canada Soccer and FIFA.
After a review of the incident, the COC said they learned of a second drone incident that had also allegedly taken place on July 19 during New Zealand's practice.
Both Mander and Lombardi were removed from the Canadian Olympic Team while Bev Priestman, head coach of Canada Soccer's Women's National Team, voluntarily stepped down from coaching the July 25 soccer match against New Zealand, according to the COC.
“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,” said Priestman.
“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 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.”
All Canada Soccer staff are undergoing mandatory ethics training.
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