WHITES ACCEPT FINE IN SPYGATE RUMPUS
LEEDS have apologised to their fellow Championship clubs after they were given a £200,000 fine and a severe reprimand by the English Football League following an investigation into spying.
The promotion-chasers had been under the spotlight after head coach Marcelo Bielsa admitting to sending someone to spy on a Derby County training session.
The club admitted a breach of Regulation 3.4 which states: “In all matters and transactions relating to the League, each club shall behave towards each other club and the League with the utmost good faith.”
A Leeds statement said: “We accept that whilst we have not broken any specific rule, we have fallen short of the standard expected by the EFL with regards to regulation 3.4.
“We apologise for acting in a way that has been judged culturally unacceptable in the English game and would like to thank Shaun Harvey and the EFL for the manner in which they conducted their investigations. Our focus can now return to matters on the field.”
A new rule is also set to be introduced which will prohibit teams from viewing opposition training in the 72 hours immediately prior to a fixture, unless invited to do so.
EFL chief executive Harvey said: “The sanctions imposed highlight how actions such as this cannot be condoned and act as a clear deterrent should any club seek to undertake poor conduct in the future.
“I would like to thank Leeds United for their assistance in helping to bring this matter to a conclusion as quickly as was practically possible.
“The facts of this particular case were not ones we would have expected and it is impossible to have a specific set of regulations that will apply in all circumstances of poor conduct.”