The build-up to the Womens World Cup semifinal between England and the USA has been hit by a spying row after two officials from the American team were spotted at the opposition hotel in Lyon, France.
The incident unfolded on Sunday when two members of US staff were seen by English FA officials at the team hotel, The Fourviere, where players are staying and preparing ahead of Tuesdays crunch clash in the city.
The England players were training at facilities around 30 minutes away when the US staff were seen being shown around the hotel.
The US staff are understood to have been wearing plain clothes, and the formal explanation from the team is that they were scouting out the hotel as a potential location for Sundays final, which, like Tuesdays semifinal, will be played at Parc Olympique Lyonnais.
Lionesses manager Phil Neville asserted that the row would have no bearing on the game, but was nonetheless miffed at the presence of opposition staff at the teams base, where key tactics discussions have taken place.
"The only thing I would say is its not something that I would want my team ops [operations] person doing,” Neville said at a press conference.
“Its not something that wed do, send somebody round to another teams hotel.
“Im sure that [USA coach] Jill Ellis probably wouldnt have been happy with that arrangement. Im sure that she will be dealing with their infrastructure within their own discipline, probably.”
The USA have maintained there was nothing shady to the visit by their members of staff, asserting that it was standard procedure for them to scope out the location as a potential base for Sundays final, should they overcome England.
“You have to plan ahead,” Ellis said when asked about the scandal.
She also insisted that the team – who are the reigning champions and favorites in France – were not getting ahead of themselves by already making arrangements for the final.
"Arrogance has nothing to do with us, thats planning preparation for our staff. I think thats pretty normal,” Ellis said.
The US reached the last four by seeing off hosts France 2-1 in the last round thanks to a double from Megan Rapinoe.
The star winger has made the headlines for non-footballing reasons during the tournament, after footage was shared of her vowing she would “not go to the f***ing White House,” should the team win the tournament.
That drew a Twitter response from US President Donald Trump in which he told her not to “disrespect the flag.”
The build-up to the Womens World Cup semifinal between England and the USA has been hit by a spying row after two officials from the American team were spotted at the opposition hotel in Lyon, France.
The incident unfolded on Sunday when two members of US staff were seen by English FA officials at the team hotel, The Fourviere, where players are staying and preparing ahead of Tuesdays crunch clash in the city.
The England players were training at facilities around 30 minutes away when the US staff were seen being shown around the hotel.
The US staff are understood to have been wearing plain clothes, and the formal explanation from the team is that they were scouting out the hotel as a potential location for Sundays final, which, like Tuesdays semifinal, will be played at Parc Olympique Lyonnais.
Lionesses manager Phil Neville asserted that the row would have no bearing on the game, but was nonetheless miffed at the presence of opposition staff at the teams base, where key tactics discussions have taken place.
"The only thing I would say is its not something that I would want my team ops [operations] person doing,” Neville said at a press conference.
“Its not something that wed do, send somebody round to another teams hotel.
“Im sure that [USA coach] Jill Ellis probably wouldnt have been happy with that arrangement. Im sure that she will be dealing with their infrastructure within their own discipline, probably.”
The USA have maintained there was nothing shady to the visit by their members of staff, asserting that it was standard procedure for them to scope out the location as a potential base for Sundays final, should they overcome England.
“You have to plan ahead,” Ellis said when asked about the scandal.
She also insisted that the team – who are the reigning champions and favorites in France – were not getting ahead of themselves by already making arrangements for the final.
"Arrogance has nothing to do with us, thats planning preparation for our staff. I think thats pretty normal,” Ellis said.
The US reached the last four by seeing off hosts France 2-1 in the last round thanks to a double from Megan Rapinoe.
The star winger has made the headlines for non-footballing reasons during the tournament, after footage was shared of her vowing she would “not go to the f***ing White House,” should the team win the tournament.
That drew a Twitter response from US President Donald Trump in which he told her not to “disrespect the flag.”
