Canada’s women’s football coach, Bev Priestman, has been sent home from the Paris Olympics 2024 after an investigation found that her country had used a drone to record footage of another team’s tactics during their match. The incident has sparked outrage and concerns about the integrity of international competitions.

The Canadian Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday that Priestman had been released from her duties as coach of the women’s football team due to the allegations against her country. The move comes after an investigation by the International Football Association (FIFA) found that a drone was used to record footage of the tactics of another team during their match.

The incident is believed to have occurred during Canada’s group stage match against France on July 22, where Priestman was seen operating a drone above the pitch. The footage recorded by the drone has not been made public.

FIFA launched an investigation into the allegations after receiving a complaint from the French football federation. The organization found that the drone had indeed been used to record footage of the opposing team’s tactics during the match.

The Canadian Olympic Committee said in a statement: ‘We take these allegations very seriously and have taken swift action to address them. We understand that this incident has caused upset and concern, and we apologize for any harm or damage caused.’

Priestman has been suspended from her duties as coach pending the outcome of an investigation.

The incident has sparked concerns about the integrity of international competitions and the use of technology in sports. It is unclear at present whether Priestman will face further action or sanctions over the allegations.

Keywords: Paris Olympics, Canada, football, spying allegations, drone recording