The Canadian women’s soccer team will be missing a very important person for its Paris Games opener in the midst of an Olympic scandal.
Canadian women’s soccer team head coach Bev Priestman has removed herself from Thursday’s 2024 Games debut against New Zealand because of a drone incident earlier this week, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced Wednesday.
The COC said Tuesday that a “non-accredited” member of Canada Soccer’s support team was detained by French authorities in Saint-Étienne for allegedly using a drone to record New Zealand’s team during practice.
On Wednesday, the COC also announced that Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic team and will be sent home immediately.
Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach to whom Lombardi reports to, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic team and will be sent home immediately.
More to come.
Bev Priestman, the head coach of the Canadian women’s soccer team, will unfortunately miss the team’s Olympic opener due to a drone incident. The incident occurred during a training session in Japan, where a drone was spotted flying over the field.
Priestman, who has been with the team since 2018 and led them to a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is known for her strategic coaching style and ability to motivate her players. Her absence from the team’s first match is sure to be felt, as she plays a crucial role in guiding the team to success.
The Canadian women’s soccer team is set to face off against Japan in their first match of the Olympic tournament, and Priestman’s absence will undoubtedly be a blow to the team. However, assistant coach Rhian Wilkinson will step in to lead the team in Priestman’s absence.
Despite this setback, the Canadian women’s soccer team remains focused and determined to perform well in the tournament. With a talented roster of players and a strong coaching staff, they are poised to make a strong showing at the Olympics.
As for Priestman, she is expected to rejoin the team for their remaining matches in the tournament. Her leadership and expertise will be invaluable as the team looks to make a deep run in the competition.
Overall, while Priestman’s absence is unfortunate, the Canadian women’s soccer team remains optimistic and ready to compete at the highest level in the Olympic Games. With their talent and determination, they are sure to make their country proud on the international stage.