Spying claims! Canada drone caught watching Football Ferns training

The New Zealand Olympic Committee has lodged a complaint after a drone flown over a Football Ferns training session at the Paris Olympics was found to be operated by a staff member of the Canadian team.

The incident happened earlier this week while the New Zealand women’s football team was training in St Etienne.

Canada, the defending Olympic champions, play the Football Ferns in the opening game on Friday morning New Zealand time.

“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,” an NZOC statement said.

“The NZOC has formally lodged the incident with the IOC integrity unit and has asked Canada for a full review.”

According to the statement Team Canada has issued an apology and is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The 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,” the COC wrote in a statement.

The NZOC said they were shocked by the incident.

“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 are due to face each other in their opening game of Paris 2024,” their statement said.

“At this time the NZOC’s main priority is to support the New Zealand women’s football athletes and wider team as they start their campaign.”

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission