In a shocking turn of events, an espionage scandal overshadowed the women's Olympic soccer match between Canada and New Zealand in Paris. The defending champions, Canada, emerged victorious with a 2-1 win but not without the controversy surrounding the use of drones to spy on New Zealand's training sessions.

Leading up to the match, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) took swift action by dismissing two employees involved in the scandal. Joseph Lombardi, an analyst with the team, was identified as the person responsible for flying the illegal drone over the New Zealand training sessions. Alongside Lombardi, Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach, was also fired.

On the eve of the match, head coach Bev Priestman voluntarily decided to sit out, expressing her remorse and acknowledging that the incidents did not align with the values of the Canadian team. Priestman issued an apology to both New Zealand's players and staff, as well as to Team Canada.

The incident came to light when the supervisor of the Olympic training sites in Saint-Etienne noticed a drone hovering above Auguste Dury stadium, where the New Zealand team was practicing. The 43-year-old Canadian drone pilot was apprehended and questioned by authorities. It was revealed that he had filmed the closed-door training sessions of the New Zealand women's team on two different occasions.

The drone footage captured on July 22 showed New Zealand players implementing their trainer's instructions, while additional images from July 20, a previously unknown instance, were also discovered. During questioning, the pilot admitted that the videos had helped him learn the tactics of the opposing team.

Although the assistant trainer from the Canadian team was questioned regarding her knowledge of the drone pilot's actions, it was determined that she had no involvement or prior awareness of the espionage plot.

The drone pilot, accompanied by a lawyer, accepted an 8-month prison sentence, along with the confiscation of his drone and other electronic equipment found in his hotel room. He was charged with maintaining an unmanned aircraft over a prohibited area, which carries a maximum prison sentence of one year and a fine of 45,000 euros ($49,000).

In response to the scandal, Canada Soccer has announced an independent external review of the incident, while FIFA, the sport's international governing body, has initiated disciplinary proceedings.

Despite the controversy, the match between Canada and New Zealand took place, with Canada securing a 2-1 victory. New Zealand coach Indiah-Page Riley described the scandal as igniting a fire in their team's determination.

As the dust settles, the Olympic Games in Paris continue, but this espionage scandal will undoubtedly leave a lasting mark on the women's soccer tournament, reminding participants of the importance of fair play and upholding the values of the sport.