According to several sources, a Winnipeg Blue Bombers scout was caught spying on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats practice on Tuesday.
Ron Trentini had his notes confiscated and was escorted from Ivor Wynne Stadium. The Ticats also revoked his credentials for Saturday's game between the two teams. Trentini was reportedly recognized by Ticat scout Danny McManus.
"It's totally unethical," said Ticats general manager Bob O'Billovich, according to the Scratching Post with Drew Edwards. "It blows my mind that the guy would be dumb enough to walk into our stadium and take notes and think he wouldn't be recognized."
According to the Winnipeg Free Press, Trentini had worked with the Bombers in Toronto this spring to help them prepare for the Canadian Draft.
"In regards to the reported incident in Hamilton it should be noted that the WFC did not engage the services of this individual who attended an open practice for said purposes nor do we condone any such actions," said Blue Bombers President and CEO Lyle Bauer in a statement. "Although we have used the services of this individual in the past it has been in the area of personnel scouting including tracking of Canadian and CIS players."
"Maybe this used to go on a long time ago when a guy might try and watch practice with binoculars from a building across or something," said O'Billovich. "But to just walk in and just start taking notes? That's pretty dumb."
The league has been informed.
Back in September of 2007, the New England Patriots were disciplined by the NFL for videotaping the signals of the New York Jets' defensive coaches during a game.
An investigation was launched and the league fined Patriots coach Bill Belichick $500,000, docked the Patriots $250,000, and took away the team's scheduled first-round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Files from the Winnipeg Free Press were used in this report.