New Zealand women’s soccer team complains after Canadian staffer flies drone over training

New Zealand said it had complained to the International Olympic Committee’s integrity unit after it emerged that a drone flying over a training session of the New Zealand women’s soccer team was being piloted by a member of the Canadian team’s support staff.

Reigning Olympic champions Canada and New Zealand will meet on Thursday in their opening match at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The drone incident occurred earlier this week, the New Zealand Olympic Committee said on Wednesday.

“Team support members immediately reported the incident to police and the drone pilot, identified as a support staff member for the Canadian women’s soccer team, was arrested,” the NZOC said in a statement.

“The NZOC has officially reported the incident to the IOC Integrity Unit and asked Canada to conduct a full investigation.”

The NZOC statement said Canada apologized for the incident and was investigating.

“The NZOC and the New Zealand Football Association are committed to the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games and are deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident, which occurred just three days before the two teams’ opening match in Paris 2024,” the NZOC said.

“The NZOC’s main priority at this time is to support the New Zealand women’s footballers and extended team as they launch their campaign.”

This is not the first time that a Canadian soccer team has been accused of filming a rival’s training session with a drone.

In 2021 in Toronto, Honduras suspended a training session before its men’s World Cup qualifier against Canada after spotting a drone over the field, according to Honduran media reports. The teams played out a 1-1 draw.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

(Want great stories delivered straight to your inbox? Create or log in to a FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized daily newsletter.)

Get more out of the Summer Olympics Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this point

Canada