SM
Newcastle vs. Spurs: 9 hrs 44 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Leeds' Championship rivals complain to EFL over spygate

:Headline: Leeds' Championship rivals complain to EFL over spygate: ID:347283: from db_amp
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa has admitted to routinely spying on other teams.

Eleven Championship clubs have complained to the English Football League about Leeds spying on opposition teams, the governing body has announced.

Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa has admitted to having all their Championship opponents watched in training this season, having had a member of his staff caught in the act by Derby.

The EFL and Football Association are investigating the matter and the EFL has been approached by many of Leeds' rivals voicing their concerns about events.

An EFL spokesman said: "The EFL has received a communication on behalf of a number of Championship clubs in regard to the current matter involving Leeds United.

"The request attributed to 11 clubs will be considered as part of the current investigation that has commenced."

The 'spygate' scandal, as it has been dubbed, involved Bielsa sending a member of his staff down to the Derby training ground to watch them train ahead of their Championship game at Elland Road eight days ago, which Leeds won 2-0.

While Leeds do not appear to have actually broken any rules, Bielsa's actions have upset many clubs. The situation has been magnified by Leeds' position at the top of the table.

Bielsa called a hastily-arranged media briefing on Wednesday to present his in-depth analysis to journalists in the hope of showing that his research is so thorough that he gained no advantage from watching Derby train.

But Bristol City owner Steve Lansdown has publicly voiced his opinion about the matter and wants a points deduction for Leeds.

Speaking to BBC Points West on Friday, he said: "The only thing that makes sense if I'm honest is a points deduction.

"They ought to seriously consider it, but I don't think that will happen as I don't think the EFL will be strong enough to do something like that. A fine would go some way towards showing it's not acceptable. Whatever happens we mustn't condone it.

"If he'd asked to send someone to watch our training we would have said no. And every other football club would say no. So why does he think it's acceptable to do it?

"However great a coach he is, it's the wrong thing to do. Poking around and skulking around a training ground is not part of the game."

Meanwhile, Derby are advertising for a new analyst to improve the team's pre-match preparations.

The vacancy, which appears in the jobs and careers section of the club's official website, was posted prior to the recent spying controversy.

The position is for an "experienced data integration architect" to work as part of Derby's data and football analysis teams.

While the key responsibilities section does not require entering rival training grounds using pliers, which is what Derby boss Frank Lampard claimed the Leeds member of staff did, it does ask for applicants to "think outside of the box" on ideas to improve the club's database and information.

amp_article__347283 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-01-19 20:29:51:
html db last update - 2021-03-07 15:41:29 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Marcelo Bielsa

Click here for more stories about Leeds United

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .