SATURDAY, JULY 27 UPDATE:
FIFA has banned three coaches – head coach Bev Priestman and Jasmine Mander and Joseph Lombardi – for one year each and fined Canada Soccer about C$313,000.
THE Canadian Olympic Committee announced on Wednesday that following its review of the July 22 drone incident in Saint-Étienne, and upon learning of a second drone incident at a July 19 New Zealand practice, it has imposed the following sanctions and consequences:
- 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, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately.
- COC has accepted the decision of Head Coach Bev Priestman to remove herself from coaching the match against New Zealand on July 25.
- Canada Soccer staff will undergo mandatory ethics training.
Meanwhile, a report from CBC Sports said that Lombardi who was arrested in France for allegedly flying a drone over a New Zealand women’s soccer team practice has accepted an eight-month suspended prison sentence, the Toronto Star said.
A CBC report also said: “[Lombardi] admitted to the acts committed on July 20, which had initially been kept under wraps, while Mander was also interviewed but said she had nothing to do with the acts committed and was therefore exonerated.”
The COC said it is in contact with the IOC and in contact with FIFA.
“Canada Soccer has been transparent and cooperative throughout the process. The COC will continue to review this matter and may take further action if necessary.”
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach Bev Priestman said in a statement: “On behalf of our entire team, I first and foremost want to apologize 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. Accordingly, to emphasize our team’s commitment to integrity, I have decided to voluntarily withdraw from coaching the match 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.”
The Canadian women’s soccer team is scheduled to take on New Zealand in a group A match on Thursday.
Canada, ranked eighth in the world, is the defending Olympic champion after capturing gold three years ago in Tokyo. New Zealand is ranked 28th.
