Leeds United hero involved in Marcelo Bielsa spygate repeat as EFL release statement
Leeds United were fined £200,000 by the EFL after watching Derby County training back in 2019.
Leeds United’s 2019 ‘spygate’ saga could be repeated amid reports of an EFL probe into allegations of a similar offence by Championship side Southampton.
Leeds were fined £200,000 by the EFL back in 2019 after a backroom staff member was spotted watching Derby County training from a public footpath. Manager Marcelo Bielsa received plenty of outside criticism for his decision to observe opponents before holding an extraordinary 70-minute press conference outlining every detail of his vast analysis.
Promotion hero Luke Ayling was part of that Leeds squad under Bielsa but has now allegedly become one of the spied on. The Daily Mail report his Middlesbrough side have caught what they believe to be an employee of play-off semi-final opponents Southampton snooping on their pre-game preparations.
According to the report, the individual was approached by Middlesbrough club staff on Thursday morning at their Rockliffe Park training ground. The person, who BBC Sport report was a Southampton performance analyst, is claimed to have deleted videos from his mobile but refused to identify himself before changing clothes in a toilet at the nearby Rockliffe Hall Hotel, with the EFL now involved.
A statement from the governing body read: “The EFL has written to Southampton FC requesting their observations following a complaint from Middlesbrough FC relating to alleged unauthorised filming ahead of the two Clubs meeting in Saturday’s Championship Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg.
“The alleged incident is said to have taken place on Middlesbrough’s private property by an individual identified to be associated with Southampton. The League is treating this matter as potential misconduct under EFL Regulations and will be making no further comment at this time.”
Both clubs had been approached for comment by the Daily Mail. At the time of publication, neither Middlesbrough nor Southampton commented.
Southampton could suffer Leeds United fate if found guilty
Should Southampton be found guilty of spying on Middlesbrough training, they could be punished under rules brought in following Bielsa’s 2019 spygate saga. EFL rules now state: "no club shall directly or indirectly observe (or attempt to observe) another club's training session in the period of 72 hours prior to any match.”
After plenty of debate seven years ago, Leeds were still punished under rules that state: “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.” Bielsa insisted on paying the £200,000 fine himself.
"The sanction I received that the federation gave us - £200,000,” he said at the time. “It's a financial sanction the club received - not against me. But I am responsible for it and that's why I paid from my pocket."
Southampton and Middlesbrough play their play-off semi-final first-leg at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday lunchtime before the reverse at St Mary’s on Tuesday. Millwall and Hull City make up the other leg with all four teams vying to join Leeds in the Premier League.