Canada-New Zealand drone controversy, explained: Why Canadian women's soccer flew device over New Zealand's practice

Brendan OSullivan

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Canada-New Zealand drone controversy, explained: Why Canadian women's soccer flew device over New Zealand's practice image

The NFL's "Spygate" may have happened over 15 years ago, but the Canadian women's soccer team is introducing a sequel to that major scandal.

The New Zealand women's soccer team caught a drone flying over its practice on Monday, July 22. The team immediately reported it to the police, who confirmed a staff member of the Canadian women's soccer team to be the culprit.

The staff member flying the drone was not named, but Canada's official statement described the person as a "non-accredited member of the Canada soccer support team." Canada denounced the act, citing the country's commitment to fair play.

The sequel was short-lived and the staff member must not have learned from the Patriots' mistakes in 2007. Nonetheless, why would Canada attempt to capture footage from New Zealand's practice?

The Sporting News explains the controversy below.

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Canada-New Zealand drone controversy, explained

The Canadian women's national team has already found itself in serious drama before the 2024 Paris Olympics have even begun.

The New Zealand women's soccer team caught a member of Canada's soccer support team spying on the team's practice with a drone on Monday, July 22.

Canada plays New Zealand in the first game of the Olympic women's soccer tournament, so the staff member was apparently attempting to get a leg up on their opponent. Additionally, Group A proves to be challenging with France, Canada, New Zealand, and Colombia matched up.

The police detained the staff member and New Zealand's Olympic Committee notified the International Olympic Committee of the occurrence.

MORE: Who will win the gold medal for women's soccer?

Canada has since come out with an official statement, apologizing for the incident while also condemning the "non-accredited member of the Canada soccer support team."

"The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair-play and we are shocked and disappointed," the statement read. "We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand football, to all the players affected, and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee."

An investigation by the was conducted into the incident. As a result, Canadian women's soccer team coach Bev Priestman will not coach against New Zealand in Canada's first Olympic soccer game on Thursday. The Canadian Olympic Committee did not specify whether Priestman was aware her staff was using drones.

In addition, two Canada Soccer staffers are being sent home. Canada Soccer as a whole staff will undergo "mandatory ethics training."

FIFA also is getting involved in the drone incident as well. The organization has opened proceedings against Priestman, Jasmine Mander and Joseph Lombardi for a potential breach of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Regulations of Olympic Football Tournaments.

The pilot of the Canada drone was given a suspended eight-month sentence by French prosecutors. Strictly a European punishment, the pilot does not have to serve the suspension unless he is caught again. 

The New Zealand Football Federation has responded strong, saying they had referred the incident to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

Two days after news broke of the women's team spying on New Zealand, a TSN report detailed that both the men's and women's national teams have used drones to spy on opponents for years. This includes the 2021 Olympics in which the Canadian women's team won the gold medal.

"Some staff and contractors were told the filming was part of their jobs and that they could lose their positions with the federation if they did not go along with the demands, one of the sources said in a series of interviews with TSN on Wednesday and Thursday," the TSN report read.

The women's Olympics football tournament is slated to begin on July 25 local time.

Brendan OSullivan

Brendan OSullivan Photo

Brendan O'Sullivan is an editorial intern for Sporting News, joining in 2024. He previously worked at Newsday on Long Island, New York after graduating from Quinnipiac University.