In 2019, Leeds United and Marcelo Bielsa were under investigation after Derby County made an accusation against them. After that investigation, the Whites were indeed found guilty of spying on their opponents.
The club was fined £200,000 and given a severe reprimand by the EFL after the incident. Bielsa later admitted that he did send someone to Derby’s training ground ahead of the game, which Leeds eventually won 2-0. The Whites aided in the investigation and admitted to breaching regulations which helped conclude the issue quickly. Since then, a new rule change has been applied which prohibits teams from viewing opposition training in the 72 hours immediately before a fixture, unless invited to do so.
This past week has seen Middlesbrough and Southampton embroiled in a similar scandal ahead of the Championship play-offs.
talkSPORT presenter raises Leeds United incident amidst EFL controversy
Middlesbrough filed a complaint to the EFL, accusing a Southampton official was seen filming training sessions. According to Sky Sports News, the man was seeing taking pictures and videos, was approached to delete them before he fled into a different part of the training ground. As of this week, Southampton have been charged by the EFL for this incident. This case will be handled by an Independent Disciplinary Commission with the outcome yet to be decided.
Sam Matterface slammed the incident on talkSPORT, saying that Marcelo Bielsa’s case in 2019 set the precedent for all this to happen now.
“It is pathetic, but it is worse and more brazen this time around because we know the precedent was set when Bielsa and his team decided to do this.
“The rules were put in place to stop it from happening again.
“The EFL rule now states that no club shall directly or indirectly observe or attempt to observe another club’s training session in the period of 72 hours before the match.”
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Sam Matterface was wrong to bring in Leeds and Bielsa
Matterface was right to reference the Leeds United vs Derby County incident, but to blame another case seven years later is just ridiculous. Bielsa and Leeds admitted to breaching rules and got their fine. So trying to pin the blame on them several years down the line is just uncalled for. The Whites are in the Premier League and are set to book another season in the top flight this coming weekend, and that is what fans and everyone around the club should be focused on