SYDNEY - Honduras national football team coach Jorge Luis Pinto repeated accusations on Tuesday that a drone had been used to spy on his players ahead of their upcoming intercontinental play-off against Australia in Sydney.
Spying allegations were first levelled at the Socceroos on Monday after the Honduras football association spotted a drone hovering above their training session at Sydney Olympic Park and tweeted a video of the incident.
Australia's football governing body, the FFA, denied having anything to do with it and a later investigation uncovered the drone belonged to children playing in a nearby park, according to local media.
But, asked about it on Tuesday in a pre-game press conference, Pinto was still fuming, saying that the incident was "embarrassing for such an advanced country."
"When Australia went to Honduras they checked every bathroom, every box at the stadiums where they trained and where they had the official training."
"Let's not be innocent, it's espionage in football," he added.
In a 0-0 draw between the two teams in San Pedro Sula on Friday, Australia's injured striker Tim Cahill didn't come off the bench.
The 37-year-old veteran is tipped to return in Wednesday night's clash, while Honduras will also be able to pick from previously suspended captain Maynor Figueroa and speedy winger Alberth Elis.
The winner of the game will secure one of the last few remaining spots at next year's World Cup in Russia.
AUSTRALIA espía entrenamiento oficial de #Honduras desde un dron; lo que ocasionó el malestar del equipo y delegación hondureña. pic.twitter.com/anCAgHtsMP
— FENAFUTH (@FenafuthOrg) November 13, 2017