Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

DON’T SPY FOR ME ARGENTINA

Lampard fury as Leeds boss Bielsa admits he sent a snooper to Derby

- BY JOHN CROSS Chief football writer

MARCELO BIELSA last night sensationa­lly confessed that he ordered someone to spy on Derby County.

Leeds’ Argentinia­n boss admitted that he told a member of staff to watch Derby’s training session – and claimed he did not inform the Elland Road top brass what he was doing.

And furious Derby manager Frank Lampard

claimed Leeds also spied on them before winning 4-1 at Pride Park in August.

Bielsa is now in hot water with the FA, who said: “We are aware of the incident at Derby County’s training ground and we will be investigat­ing the matter.”

Police were called and Lampard had to halt the training session after a suspect with pliers, binoculars and a change of clothes was spotted near a fence. He was driving a car traced to Leeds United.

Bielsa said: “It’s true there was someone from Leeds United. I am responsibl­e for this incident. It doesn’t matter if this legal or illegal or right or wrong.

“It’s enough that Derby and Frank Lampard felt that it was not the right thing to do for me to believe that we didn’t behave well.

“I didn’t ask the club of Leeds United for permission to do it. I’ve been using this kind of practice since the qualificat­ions of the World Cup for Argentina.”

Angry Derby boss Lampard hit back: “On a sportsman’s level it’s bad, in my opinion.”

LEEDS won last night’s clash between the sides 2-0 thanks to goals from Kemar Roofe and Jack Harrison.

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