When an #LUFC employee was found on a public footpath outside Derby’s training ground, the ‘spygate’ scandal was the main football story for weeks.
Leeds’ manager at the time - Marcelo Bielsa - was accused of not respecting English customs and culture.
One after another, pundits came out against Marcelo, from TalkSport to Sky to the papers.
Aware of the enormous backlash, Bielsa called an impromptu press conference.
Some people thought he might be resigning, or that he was sacked - such was the furore in the media that had been whipped up against him.
Instead, he admitted that Leeds had spied on every opponent that season; and then went on to give a PowerPoint presentation on all the information he had gathered on Frank Lampard’s Derby County.
There was no specific rule Leeds broke so the EFL fined Leeds £200,000 for a crime against the spirit of the game.
The spirit of football can be found - in case you’re wondering - tucked neatly under the layers of agents, betting sponsorships, state-funded sports-washing and dynamic priced tourist tickets.
Bielsa payed the fine himself.
The EFL subsequently brought in an ‘anti-espionage’ rule to stop clubs watching opponents train 72 hours before games.
Now that Middlesbrough have reportedly contacted the EFL after finding a Southampton spy watching them train ahead of the playoff semi-final, I look forward to the backlash.
I wonder if Southampton will face the same scrutiny and criticism that #LUFC and Bielsa did?
I wonder if Southampton will be fined, and if they are fined, I wonder if their manager Tonda Eckert would pay it himself?
The spygate scandal is unique no longer, but I doubt it will be the same.
⚪️✨ Leeds United now have 43 points this season. No Premier League side has ever been relegated with this point tally in a 38-game season! ✅ (@BBCSport)
Marcelo Bielsa brindó hoy una conferencia de prensa y habló acerca del Leeds.
Dijo que desea que Leeds mantenga su lugar en la Premier, porque es “el sitio donde debe estar” y que su paso por el club es uno de los recuerdos más lindos que le dio el fútbol.
Te amamos, Loco 🥹🤍
Only three players have scored in six games in a row in Europe's big-five leagues this season...
Kylian Mbappé
Erling Haaland
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Mbappé and Haaland in with some elite company. #lufc
Bielsa: "Knowing about the human being who plays football will make you a better coach than knowing about football"📓
He is back with his masterclasses!
In Spain yesterday and it was AMAZING😍
To watch it in FULL (1 HOUR) w/ENGLISH SUBTITLES, send me a DM!🥰
Folow me for more!
From saving Leeds from relegation, walking the length of the pitch on his knees, dream move to Barca.
Now Raphinha finishes 5th in the Ballon d’Or rankings (deserved higher).
Special player we had the privilege of watching in a Leeds shirt.
#LUFC
Leeds have just been promoted, won their first game, they are losing away to a team who will compete for the title (and spent huge sums again) and their fans are saying they should get rid of their 'fraud' manager. X is genuinely frightening in how many morons exist here. #lufc
I really think he is going to do big things for Valencia this season. At least I hope he does well enough to sell him for a big fee when he comes back... Sadly, Farke don't rate him and that's something that won't be fixed.
DF on Ramazani omission: "It was due to Okafor coming in, not against Largie. Gnonto was going to start. Jack Harrison is the hard worker as a defensive winger." #lufc
🚨🟡🔵 Noah Okafor to Leeds United, here we go! Deal in place as revealed last night for fee over €20m to AC Milan.
Okafor set to sign four year contract with option for further season, ready for PL move after Daniel Farke’s calls.
Travel for medical scheduled in next 24h.
Most distance covered in the Premier League after match day one:
🔹 Man City: 75.0 miles
🔹 Arsenal: 72.1 miles
🔹 Liverpool: 70.9 miles
🔹 Leeds: 70.8 miles
[Source: @FotMob] #LUFC