Canada's soccer team poses for a photo before their match against Mexico in Montreal on Saturday, June 1, 2024. (The Canadian Press)
On Tuesday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) issued a heartfelt apology to New Zealand Football after an accusation emerged that Canada’s women’s soccer team had spied on the New Zealand team during a training session. The incident reportedly took place in Saint-Etienne, France, where a support staff member from Canada Soccer was detained by French authorities following New Zealand’s complaint to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
According to New Zealand, the Canadian staffer used a drone to record their practice. This accusation led the New Zealand Olympic Committee to formally report the matter to the IOC’s integrity unit, demanding a thorough review of the situation.
In response, the COC announced it is working with the IOC, Paris 2024 officials, Canada Soccer, and FIFA to address the issue. They promised to provide a detailed update by Wednesday.
The timing of this incident comes as security for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games has been intensified. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal revealed that security forces are intercepting an average of six drones daily. Although many of these drones are believed to be used by tourists for photography, the French authorities have stressed the importance of enforcing a complete ban on drone usage.
Attal also highlighted other measures being implemented to ensure safety. These include a 150-kilometre no-fly zone around Paris, which will be strictly enforced during the opening ceremony, and the deployment of 18,000 French troops to secure the games.
The controversy comes just as the Canadian and New Zealand women’s soccer teams are set to compete in the Olympic Games, with their match scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m. EDT. Canada, the defending Olympic gold medalist, won the title in Tokyo 2021 after a victory over Sweden in the finals.
