BUG HUNTERS BROUGHT IN BY Jose in spying game
PATRICK WILLIAMS MAN United boss Jose Mourinho runs a sweeper system… to find bugs and spy drones.
A security firm makes regular checks of the offices and changing rooms at Old Trafford and the training ground.
Security staff also patrol the Carrington complex on the outskirts of Manchester looking for remote-control aircraft.
It is now standard practice for leading international and domestic sides to check for spyware.
At the last World Cup, French officials claimed they were being spied on by a drone.
And Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger once joked about using a tiny craft to snoop on rivals.
Last night a source told us: “Manchester City or Liverpool would not stoop so low as to employ people to plant bugs or fly drones to record training drills and tactics.
“But there could be some techno geek who’s out to embarrass the team.
“Rows happens a lot on training pitches and footage could be stuck on the web – leading to red faces all round.”
Advances in technology mean drones with cameras can be bought relatively cheaply, as can electronic listening devices. In 2005 Manchester United bosses were furious when a visitor planted a bug in the home dressing room before a big game with Chelsea, then managed by Mourinho.
Sir Alex Ferguson could be heard giving his stars an inspiring pre-match talk on the recordings. The players, buoyed by a surprise 1-0 win, celebrated after the final whistle by congratulating each other and jeering Mourinho’s TV interview.
A middle-man offered to sell the recordings to the media but all outlets refused to use the material.
Yesterday, New Zealand Rugby bosses reported that a listening device was found in a Sydney hotel used by the All Blacks ahead of their match with Australia.