The Canadian Olympic Committee have apologised to New Zealand Football after acknowledging a staff member was detained by French authorities in connection with the reported use of a drone during a Football Ferns training session.
The teams meet in their opening games at the Olympic Games on Friday.
The drone operator was held by police after New Zealand complained about the incident at their training session in St Etienne on Monday.
The Canadians have since acknowledged the person detained was a “non-accredited” member of their support staff.
The Canadian team is coached by Bev Priestman, who was head of women’s football at NZ Football between 2009 and 2013. Led by Priestman, Canada won gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
Main photo: Canada’s head coach Bev Priestman.
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New Zealand’s statement
The NZ Olympic Committee issued the following statement:
“On July 22, a drone was flown over the New Zealand women’s football team training session in St Etienne.
“Team support members immediately reported the incident to police, leading to the drone operator, who has been identified as a support staff member of the wider Canadian Women’s football team, to be detained.
“The NZOC has formally lodged the incident with the IOC integrity unit and has asked Canada for a full review.
“Team Canada has issued an apology and is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The NZOC and New Zealand Football are committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games and are 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
“At this time the NZOC’s main priority is to support the New Zealand women’s football athletes and wider team as they start their campaign.”
Canada’s statement
In response, the Canadian Olympic committee issued its own statement:
“The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair-play and we are shocked and disappointed,” the statement said.
“We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected, and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee.”
“Canada Soccer is working closely and cooperatively with the Canadian Olympic Committee on the matter involving the Women’s National Team
“Next steps are being reviewed with the IOC, Paris 2024, and FIFA. We will provide an update (Wednesday).”
It is not the first time a Canadian team has been accused of using a drone to spy on their opponents’ training.
In 2021, the Honduras men’s team suspended a training session after seeing a drone above them during a practice session in Toronto ahead of a FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Olympic squads
New Zealand
Player/caps/club
Mackenzie Barry* (16 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
CJ Bott (46 caps) Leicester City, England
Katie Bowen (109 caps) Inter Milan, Italy
Milly Clegg* (8 caps) Racing Louisville, United States
Victoria Esson (23 caps) Rangers FC, Scotland
Macey Fraser* (5 caps) Utah Royals, United States
Ally Green (14 caps) AGF, Denmark
Jacqui Hand (27 caps) Lewes FC, England
Grace Jale* (31 caps) Unattached
Katie Kitching* (10 caps) Sunderland, England
Anna Leat (18 caps) Aston Villa, England
Meikayla Moore (65 caps) Glasgow City, Scotland
Gabi Rennie (37 caps) Åland United, Finland
Ali Riley (162 caps) Angel City, United States
Indiah-Paige Riley* (24 caps) PSV Vrouwen, Netherlands
Malia Steinmetz* (31 caps) FC Nordsjælland, Denmark
Rebekah Stott (102 caps) Melbourne City FC, Australia
Kate Taylor* (16 caps) Unattached
*Denotes first involvement in an Olympic campaign
Alternates
Claudia Bunge (31 caps) HB Køge, Denmark
Michaela Foster (18 caps) Auckland United, New Zealand
Annalie Longo (133 caps) Cashmere Technical, New Zealand
Murphy Sheaff (0 caps) Kansas State University, United States
Canada
Goalkeepers
Sabrina D’Angelo (Welland, Ontario)
Kailen Sheridan (Whitby, Ontario)
Defenders
Kadeisha Buchanan (Brampton, Ontario)
Gabrielle Carle (Lévis, Quebec)
Vanessa Gilles (Ottawa, Ontario)
Ashley Lawrence (Caledon East, Ontario)
Jayde Riviere (Markham, Ontario)
Jade Rose (Markham, Ontario)
Midfielders
Simi Awujo (Atlanta, Georgia, United States)
Jessie Fleming (London, Ontario)
Julia Grosso (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Quinn (Toronto, Ontario)
Forwards
Janine Beckie (Highlands Ranch, Colorado, United States)
Jordyn Huitema (Chilliwack, British Columbia)
Cloé Lacasse (Sudbury, Ontario)
Adriana Leon (King City, Ontario)
Nichelle Prince (Ajax, Ontario)
Evelyne Viens (L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec)
Alternates
Lysianne Proulx (Boucherville, Quebec)
Shelina Zadorsky (London, Ontario)
Deanne Rose (Alliston, Ontario)
Desiree Scott (Kansas City, Missouri, United States)
Olympics tournament
New Zealand will play Canada, France and Colombia in their group games at the tournament.
The groups
# indicates current FIFA world ranking
Group A
France #2
Colombia #22
Canada #8
New Zealand #28
Group B
United States #5
Zambia #64
Germany #4
Australia #12
Group C
Spain #1
Japan #7
Nigeria #36
Brazil #9
Olympic Games fixtures
Games to be played on Friday July 26, 2024 (NZT)
Canada v New Zealand
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, 3am (NZT)
France v Colombia
Stade de Lyon, Décines-Charpieu, 7am (NZT)
Games to be played on Monday July 29, 2024 (NZT)
New Zealand v Colombia
Stade de Lyon, Décines-Charpieu, 3am (NZT)
France v Canada
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, 7am (NZT)
Games to be played on Thursday August 1, 2024 (NZT)
New Zealand v France
Stade de Lyon, Décines-Charpieu, 7am (NZT)
Colombia v Canada
Stade de Nice, Nice, 7am (NZT)
This story was first published on July 24, 2024.
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