29 Jul 2024

Olympics: 'Disappointing' Canadian drone scandal overshadowed Games campaign

9:07 am on 29 July 2024
Canada forward Nichelle Prince beats CJ Bott of New Zealand for the ball in the Football Ferns' opening match at the Paris Olympics.

Canada forward Nichelle Prince beats CJ Bott of New Zealand for the ball in their match at the Paris Olympics. Photo: Arnaud FINISTRE / AFP

Disappointing how the Canadian drone scandal has overshadowed New Zealand's Paris Olympic Games campaign, New Zealand's chef de mission says.

Further sanctions were handed down over the weekend by football's global governing body to the Canadian women's football team, following revelations team management had used a drone to spy on Football Ferns' key pre-match tactical sessions.

FIFA docked six competition points from the Canadians and suspended the team's head coach Bev Priestman for 12 months.

The Canadian Soccer Association has also been fined 200,000 Swiss francs (NZ $383,855).

On Sunday, both the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and New Zealand Football commended FIFA's "swift action".

But both felt the sanctions did not address the disadvantage burdened by the Football Ferns.

The side ultimately went down 2-1 to the eighth world-ranked Canadians in both teams' opening group stage matchup.

New Zealand Olympic Team's chef de mission Nigel Avery told First Up while Canada was penalised, New Zealand weren't offered extra points.

"We're stuck with what the FIFA result was," he said.

"I believe New Zealand Football isn't happy that the Canadians were deducted points but we weren't awarded any."

Avery said the situation was a "disappointing chapter" for both countries.

"We want to make sure we don't stop supporting the players and their coaching staff.

"They've taken a really good view of saying 'hey we're just going to focus on games'."

New Zealand were beaten 2-0 by Colombia in their second Games group on Monday.

The team would face host country France in their final group game at Décines-Charpieu on Wednesday.

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