The reigning Olympic women's football champions, Canada, have sent two staff home including the assistant coach after it was revealed they spied on the Football Ferns on two occasions using a drone.
And it's been reported one of them has accepted an eight-month suspended prison sentence for his actions.
Just a day before the two sides were due to face off in the opening match the Canadian Olympic Committee said following a review of the July 22 drone incident it had learnt of a second drone incident days earlier on July 19 at another New Zealand practice.
As a result, Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, has been sent home, as well as Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach.
Two staff members - Canada's assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi - have been kicked out of the Olympic squad. (Source: 1News)
The Toronto Star is reporting Lombardi was charged with maintaining an unmanned aircraft over a prohibited area and accepted a suspended sentence.
French media confirmed he appeared in court, accepted the verdict and was given an eight-month suspended sentence.
In a statement to CBC, a French prosecutor did not name Lombardi but said a 43-year-old coach – who told police he was an analyst – captured images from at least two trainings.
Head Coach Bev Priestman, who is married to a former New Zealand Football Fern, has also chosen to remove herself from coaching the match against NZ on July 25.
She said she was ultimately responsible for conduct within her team, and has withdrawn "to ensure everyone feels that the sportsmanship of this game is upheld".
"On behalf of our entire team, I first and foremost want to apologise to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and to the players on Team Canada. This does not represent the values that our team stands for," Bev Priestman said.
The drone-spying scandal involving the Football Ferns has taken another turn today. (Source: Breakfast)
The NZ chef de mission Nigel Avery said he was very disappointed, and it had been "really unsettling" for the Football Ferns.
"We're shocked and this is an incident that goes against everything we stand for," he said.
"It's clearly taken away from us from an energy… [and it's] extremely disruptive not knowing to what extent information's been provided to the opposition for tomorrow's game or not,” he said.
It's believed at least five minutes of footage was recorded, but it could be more.
Avery said he'd spoken with the Canadian Olympic Committee who were "shocked and deeply embarrassed".
The Olympic integrity unit has been notified, as well as FIFA, and the Canadian Olympics Committee has said it will continue to review the matter and "may take further action if necessary".
The NZ Olympic Committee said NZ Football are looking to urgently expedite the matter through the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
It has already been a tough lead in for the Football Ferns after captain Ali Riley withdrew from the tournament on medical grounds.
This would have been her fifth Olympic games.
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