Soccer Coach Priestman Unable to Attend Opener Due to Drone Incidents, Two Staff Members Sent Home

Canadian women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman decided to step down from coaching in Thursday’s Olympic Games opener against New Zealand, and two team staff members were dismissed following two drone incidents.

Assistant coach Jasmine Mander and Canada Soccer analyst Joseph Lombardi were removed from the soccer team’s staff, as stated by the Canadian Olympic Committee on July 24. They accepted Ms. Priestman’s choice to not coach the opener in Saint-Etienne, France.

This change occurred after the COC conducted a review of drone incidents in Saint-Etienne. There were reports of drones flying over New Zealand’s practice sessions on July 22 and July 19.

“I take full responsibility for the actions within our program,” Ms. Priestman expressed in the July 24 statement. “In demonstrating our team’s dedication to integrity, I have made the decision to step back from coaching the match on July 25. This decision is made in the spirit of accountability, ensuring the sportsmanship of the game is maintained for both teams.”

“I would like to extend an apology on behalf of our entire team to the staff and players of New Zealand Football and our own Canadian players. This behavior is not in line with the values we uphold,” she added.

The COC also announced that Canada Soccer staff will undergo mandatory ethics training.

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Canada is the reigning Olympic champion in women’s soccer, having claimed gold three years ago in Tokyo. New Zealand holds the 28th spot in the world rankings.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee contacted the police following a drone flying over the women’s soccer team’s practice on July 22. The COC verified on July 23 that a “non-accredited” member of Canada’s soccer team staff was detained by French authorities.

The NZOC also lodged a complaint with the International Olympic Committee’s integrity unit and requested a full review from Canada.

The COC expressed regret to the NZOC and New Zealand’s soccer federation, affirming that they were “shocked and disappointed” by the actions taken.

This is not the first instance of a Canadian soccer team being involved in a drone incident during an international rival’s training session.

In 2021 in Toronto, Honduras halted a training session ahead of its men’s World Cup qualifier against Canada after spotting a drone above the field. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

French security forces guarding Paris 2024 sites are managing to intercept an average of six drones per day, according to Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on July 23.

Attal added that these drones are primarily operated by “individuals, possibly tourists wanting to capture images.”

“It’s crucial to remind people of the regulations. Flying drones is prohibited,” he stated, as reported by various news outlets.

“We have systems in place to quickly intercept and apprehend those operating drones.”