体坛英语新闻：Gremio accused of using spy drones ahead of Copa Libertadores final

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian Serie A side Gremio on Tuesday refused to deny reports that they are using drones to spy on their rivals.

Gremio have been accused of hiring a company specializing in remote control technology to record training sessions of opponents, including their fellow Copa Libertadores finalists Lanus.

At a press conference on the eve of the first leg of the final in Porto Alegre, Gremio coach Renato Gaucho sought to play down the controversy.

"This has been going on for years," Gaucho said. "Every club and even the [Brazil] national team has a spy. Whether or not we used a drone, I don't know. But we paid so that information was delivered to Gremio.

"I think it's funny to make a storm in teacup the day before the Copa Libertadores final. You would think that drones were a new invention and that this has never been done before.

"How do you win a war? How do you neutralize an opponent? Any way you can. With a drone, a helicopter, a plane. Or by using a horse or a bicycle. In this world only the smartest survive. You would think that Gremio are the only ones that do this. Football is just like a war."

Lanus president Nicolas Russo said the Argentine club would not take action against Gremio's alleged tactics.

"We haven't proven anything and don't know anything so it's ok," he said. "Now we have to play football. What does it matter if somebody saw another team train? There is no problem."

According to ESPN Brasil, Gremio have also used unmanned aircraft to spy on other clubs in Brazil's Serie A championship this year.

Last week, Honduras national team coach Jorge Luis Pinto accused Australia of "espionage" by allegedly using a drone before the second leg of their intercontinental World Cup playoff in Sydney.