Leeds United were fined £200,000 by the EFL for monitoring Derby County train in 2019.
Leeds United’s 2019’spygate’ scandal could be replicated, with claims of an EFL investigation into allegations of a similar offense by Championship club Southampton.
The EFL fined Leeds £200,000 in 2019 when a backroom staff member was found viewing Derby County training from a public walkway. Manager Marcelo Bielsa faced widespread criticism for his plan to observe opponents before holding an exceptional 70-minute press conference to outline every detail of his extensive analysis.
Luke Ayling, a promotion hero, was part of Bielsa’s Leeds side but has now allegedly become one of those being spied on. According to the Daily Mail, Middlesbrough’s pre-game preparations were spied on by what they assume to be a Southampton employee.
According to the allegation, Middlesbrough club staff approached the guy on Thursday morning at their Rockliffe Park training facility. The person, who according to BBC Sport was a Southampton performance analyst, is said to have removed videos from his phone but refused to identify himself before changing clothes in a lavatory at the nearby Rockliffe Hall Hotel, with the EFL now investigating.
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The EFL has written to Southampton FC to request their observations following a complaint from Middlesbrough FC regarding alleged unlawful filming ahead of the two clubs’ meeting in Saturday’s Championship Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg.
“The alleged incident is reported to have occurred on Middlesbrough’s private property by an individual recognized as being linked with Southampton. The League is treating this as potential misconduct under EFL Regulations and will not make any further comments at this time.”
The Daily Mail approached both clubs for comment. At the time of publication, neither Middlesbrough nor Southampton had commented.
If Southampton is found guilty, they could face the same fate as Leeds United
If Southampton are found guilty of spying on Middlesbrough training, they could face punishment under new guidelines implemented in the aftermath of Bielsa’s 2019 spygate scandal. EFL regulations now stipulate that “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.”
Despite much dispute seven years ago, Leeds were nonetheless 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 punishment personally.”The sanction I received from the federation was £200,000,” he stated at the time. “The club received a financial fine, not against me. But I am liable for it, which is why I paid out of pocket.
Southampton and Middlesbrough will play the first leg of their play-off semi-finals at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon, followed by the return match at St Mary’s on Tuesday. The other leg features Millwall and Hull City, with all four teams seeking to join Leeds in the Premier League.
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