New Zealand’s Olympic Committee says its women’s soccer team had its practice session disrupted by a drone flown by a staff member of the Canadian team it will face in Group A on Thursday.
‘On July 22, a drone was flown over the New Zealand women’s football team training session in St Etienne,’ the NZOC said on Tuesday. ‘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 incident was immediately reported to the International Olympic Committee’s integrity unit and Team Canada has apologized and said it is investigating.
Team Canada said a ‘non-accredited member of the Canada Soccer support team’ was the person detained.
“The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair play and we are shocked and disappointed,’ the organization said. ‘We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee.”
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