2024 Olympics: France cruises past U.S. 3-0 in men's soccer

2024 Olympics: France cruises past U.S. 3-0 in men’s soccer

Posted by author July 24, 2024 Tennis

The coach of the Canadian women’s soccer team, Bev Priestman, has apologized to the New Zealand team after a support member of her team used a drone to film their opponents during a training session in Saint-Etienne on Monday.

Priestman has withdrawn from coaching Canada’s opening game in Group A against New Zealand on Thursday.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,” Priestman said in a statement.

Analyst Joseph Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander have been sent home, the Canadian Olympic Committee said in a statement, adding that Canada Soccer staff will also undergo what the statement called “ethics training.”

“This does not represent the values that our team stands for,” Priestman said.

New Zealand’s Olympic Committee (NZOC) said they informed police on Monday as soon as they spotted the drone flying over the team training session. The drone operator, a support staff member of the Canadian Women’s soccer team, was later detained.

The NZOC said in a statement that it was “deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident, which occurred just three days before the sides are due to face each other in their opening game of Paris 2024.”

On Tuesday, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said that six drones on average are being intercepted by security forces near Olympic sites every day.

“Maybe tourists wanting to take pictures,” Attal said.