It’s only January but the Leeds United-Derby County “spygate” saga may go down as football’s most memorable moment in 2019.
After a Leeds employee was seen at Derby’s training ground before their Championship clash last week, club manager Marcelo Bielsa admitted that he sent the staff member to watch Frank Lampard’s Derby County prepare for the match.
Then last night Bielsa called an unscheduled news conference in which he confirmed that he has sent a Leeds staff member to watch all opponents train this season. Many critics have accused Bielsa of cheating but the Argentine says he has done nothing wrong.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
“Many people have made an opinion on my behaviour,” said Bielsa. “Many condemning the behaviour, saying that it was not ethical, it was not moral. I observed all rivals we played against. We watched all the training sessions before we played them.
“What I have done is not illegal. We can discuss it, it’s not seen as a good thing, but it’s not a violation of the law. I know that not everything that is legal is right to do.”
At the “remarkable” news conference the BBC reports that the 63-year-old also showed journalists a PowerPoint presentation of his thorough preparation and in-depth analysis. There had actually been rumours he was going to resign.
Despite accusations that Bielsa’s tactics are cheating and unsportsmanlike, many football fans have been blown away by his presentation.
Last night social media exploded with praise and memes - here we round up the best posts and reactions on Twitter.
