Two Canadian team officials have been sacked and sent packing from the Olympic Games after being accused of spying on rival New Zealand.

Canada’s women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman removed herself from opening match duties in Paris Olympics, while an assistant coach and a team analyst were kicked out on Wednesday (local time).

Global soccer’s governing body FIFA has also started disciplinary proceedings, while Canada Soccer said it would launch an independent review.

It follows complaints from New Zealand’s women’s team, the Football Ferns, that their training session at St Etienne on Monday was disrupted by a drone flown by a staff member from their opening Group A opponent Canada.

After the incident was reported to police, the operator was identified as a supporting staff member of team Canada, the reigning Olympic champion.

The Canadian Olympic Committee later confirmed that assistant coach Jasmine Mander and an analyst had been kicked off its Games team.

“Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately,” the COC said.

“Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach to whom Mr Lombardi reports to, is being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and will be sent home immediately.”

Lombardi, who had been detained by police, was handed an eight-month suspended jail term and his material was confiscated, a French court said.

Canada Soccer staff will undergo mandatory ethics training.

FIFA said it had opened proceedings against Canada Soccer, Priestman, Lombardi and Mander due to a potential breach of the body’s disciplinary code.

“The matter will be submitted for the consideration of the Disciplinary Committee in the next days,” FIFA said.

In a statement, the New Zealand Olympic Committee said it was “deeply shocked and disappointed” and wanted answers.

“The NZOC has formally lodged the incident with the IOC integrity unit and has asked Canada for a full review,” the statement read.

“The NZOC and New Zealand Football are committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games.”

Priestman, who is married for a former Football Fern and previously worked for NZ Football, apologised for the offence.

“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,” she said.

“This does not represent the values that our team stands for. I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program.”

New Zealand plays Canada in their opening Olympics match on Friday (AEST).

– with AAP