New Zealandâs Olympic Committee says their womenâs football team had their training session disrupted by a drone flown by a staff member of the Canadian team. Defending Olympic champion Canada and New Zealand â the Football Ferns â meet in their opening match at the tournament on Thursday.
âOn July 22, a drone was flown over the New Zealand womenâs football team training session in St Etienne,â the NZOC said on Wednesday. âTeam 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 Womenâs football team, to be detained.â
The incident was immediately reported to the International Olympic Committeeâs integrity unit and Team Canada has since apologised and is said to be investigating, the NZOC said.
âThe NZOC and New Zealand Football are committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games and are deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident, which occurred just three days before the sides are due to face each other in their opening game of Paris 2024,â the NZOC statement said. âAt this time the NZOCâs main priority is to support the New Zealand womenâs football athletes and wider team as they start their campaign.â
The Canadian Olympic Committee said they were informed of the incident involving âa non-accredited member of the Canada Soccer support team,â adding that they are âreviewing next steps with the IOC, Paris 2024, Canada Soccer and FIFA.â
âThe Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair-play and we are shocked and disappointed. We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee,â the COC said in a statement.
New Zealand and Canada will kick off this yearâs Olympic womenâs football tournament at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.