Canada women’s Olympic football team will be without manager Beverly Priestman after two members of her staff were sent home for allegedly flying a drone over New Zealand’s training session.
The Maple Leafs are due to take on the Kiwis on Thursday in St Etienne but British head coach Priestman has voluntarily withdrawn from her duties.
Jasmine Mander, Priestman’s assistant, and Joseph Lombardi, an analyst, are the two staff members to have been given the boot over the incident.
On the incident, Priestman said: “I first and foremost want to apologise 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.
“I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program.”
The British coach of the Canada women’s football team, Beverly Priestman, will not take charge of their #Paris2024 opener v New Zealand.
That’s after two members of her backroom staff were sent home for allegedly flying a drone over a Kiwis’ training session. 🕵 #BBCOlympics
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 24, 2024
The Canadian Olympic Committee added: “The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair play and we are shocked and disappointed.
“We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected, and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee.”
In response, the New Zealand Olympic Committee said it has lodged a complaint and that the team are shocked and disappointed by the incident.
