Adelaide United’s Riley McGree suspended from national duty after engaging in unprofessional conduct during Cambodia tour

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games dream has shattered for three Olyroos after they were found to have engaged in unprofessional conduct with a woman while on tour in Cambodia in March.

South Korea's Kim Dong-hyun (R) heads the ball as Australia's Riley McGree looks on during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games men's Asian qualifier football match between South Korea and Australia at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh on March 26, 2019. (Photo by TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP)

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Adelaide United’s Australian U-23s captain Riley McGree has been suspended from the national teams until April Fools’ Day next year after breaching Football Federation Australia’s code of conduct while on duty.

McGree, Melbourne City’s Lachlan Wales and Nathaniel Atkinson, and Perth Glory’s Brandon Wilson were found to have breached FFA’s code of conduct during the AFC U-23 Championship qualifying tournament in Cambodia in March.

FFA revealed it had acted on a complaint made by a woman in Cambodia in April.

The FFA board found the players had engaged in unprofessional conduct.

McGree, 21, will miss the Australian U-23s Tokyo Olympic Games qualifiers in Thailand in January, but can continue to represent Adelaide United during the sanction, said an FFA official.

Wales, Atkinson and Wilson have been banned from participating from national teams until August 10, a day after the 2020 Tokyo Games ends.

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Riley McGree has copped a heavy ban from the FFA. Picture: Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP

“These sanctions are commensurate to the nature of the breaches of the national code of conduct, which is in place to safeguard both the players and the reputation of Australian football,” FFA chairman Chris Nikou said.

“Upholding our commitment to respect and responsibility cannot be compromised.

“Our game is built on equality, inclusivity and respect and these are values that we will continue to uphold.

“The players have understood the gravity of their actions and have positively commenced respectful relationship programs that will ensure they appreciate these values in the future.”

At the time of breaching FFA’s code of conduct, McGree was on loan from Belgium’s Club Brugge to Melbourne City.

Brugge sold McGree back to Adelaide United in July, after he penned a three-year Reds deal.

McGree, Wales, Atkinson and Wilson were also expected to be called up for Australian U-23s duty over the recent FIFA international calendar break, but due to the pending sanction the quartet did not depart for China.

The players can appeal to the independent FFA Disciplinary and Ethics Committee and to the independent FFA Appeals Committee.

Adelaide United officials declined to comment.