Championship clubs pushing for full inquiry into 'Spygate' demand 'times, dates and payment details' of Leeds United's scouting trips

The 11 Championship clubs who are pressing the EFL for an in-depth inquiry into ‘Spygate’ have asked for dates and financial details of Leeds United’s scouting trips to watch opposition training sessions, according to a report in The Times tonight.
By Phil Hay
Published 23rd Jan 2019, 18:09 BST
Updated 23rd Jan 2019, 18:13 BST

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Elland RoadElland Road
Elland Road

The newspaper published a letter sent by 11 sides to the EFL last Friday demanding “full disclosure” after Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa admitted to sending staff to observe every Championship club train this season.

As reported by the YEP on Monday, Derby County, Norwich City, Bristol City, Nottingham Forest, Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough and Millwall have all put their names to the collective letter. The Times named Hull City, Preston North End, Swansea City and Brentford as the other teams involved.

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A total of 12 Championship clubs did not agree to back the complaint, which materialised after Bielsa gave a 66-minute media briefing outlining his pre-match analysis techniques last week.

Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa on the touchline at Aston Vila. Villa are one of the 12 Championship clubs who declined to sign a collective letter of complaint to the EFL.Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa on the touchline at Aston Vila. Villa are one of the 12 Championship clubs who declined to sign a collective letter of complaint to the EFL.
Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa on the touchline at Aston Vila. Villa are one of the 12 Championship clubs who declined to sign a collective letter of complaint to the EFL.

The briefing was designed to quell criticism which arose after a member of Bielsa’s backroom team was stopped by police outside Derby’s training ground a day before Frank Lampard’s side lost 2-0 at Elland Road on January 11.

The EFL and Football Association were already looking into that incident but Bielsa’s comments prompted further pressure in the form of a collective letter to EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey.

The letter requests the dates and times of United’s scouting trips, details of the individuals responsible and any payments made. It also called for Leeds to confirm whether they used third parties to gain sight of opposition training grounds and whether information was gleaned from “inside sources”.

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Leeds, who have declined to comment on the letter, are aware of its contents but are not believed to have received a copy directly.

Bielsa travelled to London on Monday to be interviewed by Football Association officials as part of their investigation.

The 12 sides who declined to signed the letter are West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United, Birmingham City, Aston Villa, Queens Park Rangers, Bolton Wanderers, Stoke City, Wigan Athletic, Reading and Ipswich Town.

Related topics:Marcelo BielsaEFLDerby CountyHull CityFootball Association