France Manager Didier Deschamps "expressed concern" Saturday night that France was "being spied on after a drone flew over their training camp this week," according to James Ducker of the SUNDAY TIMES. FIFA has "launched an investigation into the incident, which caused bemusement among France's players as they trained at the Santa Cruz stadium in Ribeirao Preto." The French squad is "thought to have momentarily halted a session as the players began pointing at the drone as it hovered overhead on Tuesday." Deschamps: "Apparently drones are used more and more. It's not up to me, FIFA handles this and is carrying out an inquiry. We don't want any intrusion into our privacy but it's hard to fight this these days" (SUNDAY TIMES, 6/15). In London, Stuart James reported it is "unclear at this stage who was behind the stunt." A "Honduran reporter was quick to point out during Deschamps' pre-match press conference that the drone had nothing to do with France's opponents." FIFA is "yet to comment on the situation, with Deschamps happy to leave the matter in the governing body's hands" (GUARDIAN, 6/14).
