FA warned Bielsa over 2019 Spygate as Leeds were fined £200,000 | OneFootball

Marcelo Bielsa avoided an FA misconduct charge over the 2019 Spygate row, receiving a formal warning as Leeds United were fined £200,000 by the EFL.

The FA said it worked with the EFL on the case, issued formal warnings to Leeds, Bielsa and a club analyst rather than charges, and cautioned that similar evidence could prompt action under Rule E3(1).

The furore began when a Leeds employee was found outside Derby County’s training ground on 10 January, the teams were due to meet the next day and Bielsa accepted responsibility. He later disclosed that Leeds had watched every opponent’s training that season.

Leeds avoided a points deduction. The EFL introduced a regulation forbidding clubs from observing opponents’ training within 72 hours of a fixture.

By contrast, Saints head coach Tonda Eckert has been charged with three breaches of FA Rule E3.1 after admitting to spying on three opponents. It is alleged he acted improperly or brought the game into disrepute by authorising those observations.

Four months after Saints were removed from the Championship play-offs by the EFL, Eckert faces a pivotal FA hearing on Thursday. Sanctions for an E3.1 breach range from a warning or fine to a ban from all or some football activity.

Source: Daily Echo

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