Marcelo Bielsa spygate echoes as EFL requests observations over alleged spying on Middlesbrough | OneFootball

The EFL has written to Southampton for observations after Middlesbrough alleged unauthorised filming before Saturday’s Championship play-off semi-final first leg. It says the incident occurred on private property, is being treated as potential misconduct, and it will not comment further.

According to the Daily Mail, Middlesbrough staff confronted an individual at Rockliffe Park on Thursday morning, believing he was linked to Southampton, and BBC Sport reports he was a Southampton performance analyst.

The report says he deleted videos, refused to identify himself, then changed clothes in a toilet at nearby Rockliffe Hall Hotel.

Promotion hero Luke Ayling, a member of Marcelo Bielsa’s 2019 Leeds squad, is now in the Middlesbrough side allegedly spied upon.

Leeds were fined £200,000 in 2019 after a staff member watched Derby training. Bielsa faced heavy criticism and said he paid the fine himself.

Current EFL rules ban observing another club’s training within 72 hours of a match, so any breach could be punished. Southampton visit the Riverside on Saturday lunchtime, with the return at St Mary’s on Tuesday. Millwall and Hull City contest the other semi-final as all four teams aim to join Leeds in the Premier League.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk