'We're not cheats', insist Canada after Olympic football spying scandal
!['We're not cheats', insist Canada after Olympic football spying scandal 'We're not cheats', insist Canada after Olympic football spying scandal](https://citizentv.obs.af-south-1.myhuaweicloud.com/130039/conversions/AFP__20240725__364X94M__v1__HighRes__FblOlyParis2024CanNzl-og_image.webp)
Canada's players celebrate after winning the women's group A football match between Canada and New Zealand during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne on July 25, 2024. (Photo by Arnaud FINISTRE / AFP)
Canada defender Vanessa Gilles insisted her team were "not
cheats" despite a spying scandal before their 2-1 opening win over New
Zealand in the Olympic women's football competition on Thursday.
Assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joey Lombardi were sent
home from the Games in Paris on Wednesday.
Lombardi was also given a suspended eight-month prison sentence
for flying a drone over a New Zealand training session in Saint-Etienne in the
build-up to the match.
"Honestly, it wasn't easy," Gilles told reporters.
"There was a lot of emotion, frustration and humiliation
because as a player, it doesn't reflect our values and what we want to
represent as competitors at the Olympics.
"The Games represent fair play. As Canadians, these are not
our values or those of our country. We are not cheats. It was very hard but we
knew how to be united."
Canada are defending their Olympic title in Paris after defeating
Sweden to win gold in Tokyo three years ago.
"It's up to us to stay together and try not to let social
media and the press break into our bubble," added on-loan Lyon defender
Gilles. "We've been able to do that in the past."
Head coach Bev Priestman also took no part in the game after the
controversy, but is expected to be back on the bench for Canada's second Group
A match against France on Sunday.
"She took a step back from this match and left the bench to
her assistants but for the next matches, she should take her place again,"
said Gilles.
Goals from Arsenal forward Cloe Lacasse and Evelyne Viens helped
Canada come from behind to win.
New Zealand coach Michael Mayne refused to blame the spying
incident on his side's loss.
"But, yes, we are disappointed. There is the question of how
this happened and the reasons that led to this situation.
"Yes, maybe it influenced part of the game. We wanted to play
and we did our best."
New
Zealand next face Colombia on Sunday, needing to avoid defeat to give their
quarter-final hopes a boost.
Want to send us a story? SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp 0743570000 or Submit on Citizen Digital or email wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a Comment