PARIS – Canadian coach Bev Priestman withdrew from her duties during the opening match of the Paris Olympics, while an assistant coach and a team analyst were banned from the Games on Wednesday after a scandal. espionage involving the women's football tournament.

World soccer's governing body FIFA has launched disciplinary proceedings and Canada Soccer said it would launch an independent review after the New Zealand women's team said its training session on Monday had been interrupted by a drone piloted by a staff member from Canada, its initial opponent in Group A. .

The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced Wednesday that it has taken steps to remove two gold medal-winning staff members from the Tokyo Games from its Olympic team, while Priestman will not take over against New Zealand on Thursday .

“Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited Canada Soccer analyst, will be removed from the Canadian Olympic team and sent home immediately,” the COC said in a statement.

“Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach to whom Mr. Lombardi reports, will be removed from the Canadian Olympic team and sent home immediately.”

Lombardi was given an eight-month suspended prison sentence and his equipment was confiscated, a French court said.

FIFA announced Wednesday that it had opened proceedings against Canada Soccer, Priestman, Lombardi and Mander for a possible violation of the organization's disciplinary code.

“The matter will be submitted to the disciplinary committee for examination in the coming days,” FIFA said in a statement.

Priestman apologized for what happened and said the ultimate responsibility lies with him.

“On behalf of our entire team, I would first like to apologize to the players and staff of New Zealand Football as well as the players of Team Canada,” he said.

“This does not represent the values ​​our team stands for. Ultimately, I am responsible for leading our program.

“Accordingly, to underline our team's commitment to integrity, I have decided to voluntarily withdraw from officiating Thursday's match. In the interest of accountability, I do so with a view to in mind the interests of both teams and to ensure that everyone feels that the sport and spirit of this game remains.”

Canada Soccer announced Wednesday that it will launch an independent external review that will not only examine the circumstances of the case, but will also examine the historic culture of competitive ethics within all of its programs.

“Canada Soccer has always sought to prioritize integrity and fair competition, and we understand that competing honestly is a fundamental expectation of all Canadians,” President Peter Augruso and CEO Kevin Blue said in a statement. .

“We failed to meet those expectations in this matter and we apologize for that.”

The NZOC reported the incident to police and the International Olympic Committee's integrity unit.

“The 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 met in their Olympic Games. “opening in Paris,” the NZOC said in its statement. a declaration.

“At this time, the NZOC’s top priority is to support New Zealand’s female football athletes and the wider team as they begin their campaign.”

–Reuters, special for field media