Canada Soccer Analyst Admits to Spying on Opponent, Pleads Guilty to Flying Drone

The Canadian women’s soccer team will begin its gold medal defense with a scandal.

At least one Canadian soccer staffer flew a drone over New Zealand’s practices in Saint-Etienne this week ahead of their game Thursday.

Joseph Lombardi, an analyst with the team, and Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach, were both removed from the Olympic team and sent home, the Canadian Olympic Committee said in a statement; Lombardi reported to Mander. Head coach Bev Priestman has removed herself from coaching against New Zealand in the Group A opener Thursday.

Police saw the drone and arrested Lombardi on Monday, and he admitted to spying on the New Zealand team that day and over the weekend. Cops also interviewed Mander, who denied having anything to do with it. Lombardi pleaded guilty to a charge related to flying an illegal drone and accepted an eight-month suspended sentence and a 45,000-euro fine, according to the CBC.



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