Olympic Drone Scandal costs Canada the trainer
**New Zealand footballers discover a drone during training, leading to a scandal. Chief coach Bev Priestman is also suspended. A analyst and an assistant coach are now in charge.
The "Game of Drones" scandal has a sequel, the Canadian footballers find themselves without a coach during the title defense mission: The drone scandal has now also cost Bev Priestman her job temporarily. The decorated trainer in Tokyo was suspended by the Canadian NOC at least for the duration of the Paris Olympics. Assistant coach Andy Spence, who was in charge during the 2:1 win against the previously spied on New Zealand team, takes over the role.
"In the last 24 hours, we have received additional information about the use of drones against opponents before the Paris Olympics 2024," wrote the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) in a statement. As a result, the decision was made to suspend head coach Priestman "for the rest of the Paris Olympics 2024 and until the completion of an independent external investigation." Details about the new findings have not been disclosed yet.
The scandal began when video analyst Joey Lombardi spied on New Zealand's training with a drone - dangerously and simply not allowed. The New Zealand Football Association filed a complaint, leading to Lombardi's arrest in Saint-Etienne. He has received an eight-month prison sentence, which, however, has been suspended by the French justice. Assistant coach Jasmine Mander, who reported Lombardi, had to leave the Summer Games. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee is also involved in the case.
From dream marriage to dirty divorce
The drone scandal is causing great turmoil for the players as expected. "We are not cheaters," said defender Vanessa Gilles after the opening game in Saint-Etienne: "To be honest, it wasn't easy. There were many emotions, frustration and humiliation, because it doesn't reflect the values we want to represent as athletes at the Olympics." The team wants to stand for "Fairplay" and not be associated with cheating.
Head coach Priestman thought it was appropriate to miss the Thursday opening game against New Zealand due to the incident. She wanted to "apologize on behalf of our entire team (...) to the players and staff of the New Zealand Football Association," she said - but it didn't help her: A few hours after the opening match, her dream of another Olympic medal was over.
Like Lombardi and Mander, Priestman left with packed bags. The dream marriage with the Canadian Football Association ends in a dirty divorce.
Despite the suspension of head coach Bev Priestman, the women's soccer team from Canada continues their preparations for the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris. Assistant coach Andy Spence, who led the team during their win against New Zealand, takes charge in Priestman's absence.
The controversy surrounding the use of drones in women's football derails Canada's plans to defend their title at the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris. Although the details of the new findings are yet to be disclosed, head coach Bev Priestman's suspension is a significant setback for the team.
