EFL ask Leeds to explain Bielsa spying mission
THE English Football League have joined the Football Association in launching an investigation into the ‘Spygate’ controversy involving Leeds United and Derby.
Officials at the EFL have written to Leeds asking the club to provide their observations after head coach Marcelo Bielsa admitted dispatching a scout to Derby’s training ground 24 hours before Friday’s Championship game between the clubs.
The United staff member, who is understood to have been attempting to establish whether Derby winger Harry Wilson was fit to play, was stopped by police outside the complex on Thursday morning following reports of a man acting suspiciously.
The incident led to no arrest, but Derby’s anger over it led Bielsa to phone the Rams’ manager Frank Lampard and accept responsibility for the staff member’s appearance.
Bielsa spoke publicly before and after Friday’s 2-0 win over Derby, insisting the practice was common place in other countries he had been employed as a coach.
He declined to apologise to Lampard, but said he would look to “respect the norms that are applied in the country I work in”.
“If you watch a training session from a public space it’s not illegal and you don’t get condemned by the police,” Bielsa said. “I don’t feel like I’m someone who cheated.”
Leeds, however, made a public apology to Derby on Saturday morning after chairman Andrea Radrizzani said sorry in faceto-face discussions with County owner Mel Morris.
The FA announced prior to Friday’s match at Elland Road that they are investigating the saga and the EFL said yesterday that they have begun a probe of their own on the back of a complaint by Derby and Bielsa’s comments.
The EFL warned of punishment to come by saying the “alleged actions appear to contravene the club’s charter that all EFL clubs agreed to in summer 2018.”
EFL regulation 3.4 states that “each club shall behave towards each other club and the League with the utmost good faith.” Regulation 21 provides scope for the governing body to charge Bielsa, Leeds or both with bringing the game into disrepute.
Neither the EFL nor the FA have commented on what level of punishment is open to them if Leeds are found guilty.