Former Ireland international Keith Andrews has said that Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa’s spying on Derby County was disgusting and has no place in British football.
Bielsa admitted to sending a club employee to spy on Derby County ahead of their Championship match at Elland Road tonight.
Leeds currently sit at the top of the Championship table but Bielsa insisted that his tactics were not illegal.
“It’s true there was someone from Leeds United, I am responsible for this incident,” the Argentine told Sky Sports before the match.
“There is some precisions that I need to give. It doesn’t matter if this is legal or illegal, or right or wrong, for me it is enough that Frank Lampard and Derby County felt that it was not the right thing to do. For me to believe it was, I didn’t behave well.
“Yesterday I talked to Frank Lampard, and he told me I didn’t respect the fair play rules. I have a different point of view on it, but the important thing is what Frank Lampard and Derby County think.
“I am responsible for it, because I didn’t ask for Leeds’ permission to do it. Without trying to find a justification, I have been using this kind of practice since the World Cup qualifiers with Argentina. This is not illegal.
“We have been doing it publicly, we talk about it in the press. For some people it is the wrong thing to do, for others it is not.”
WATCH: Marcelo Bielsa admits he was behind #LUFC spy-gate and that he has been using similar tactics for year.
📺 Watch live on Sky Sports Football: https://t.co/dLI22fdxp1 pic.twitter.com/MKktATOVnh
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 11, 2019
Andrews said that Bielsa’s prior history with spying is no excuse for his behaviour and that he must change his way and adapt to the culture of the country where he now works.
“It’s madness,” said Andrews.
“Initially there’s a bit of comical value to it, you think someone is skulking around the opposition training ground and then you start thinking a little bit more in depth and I think it’s quite disgusting really.
“It’s not the way things are done over here. It’s not illegal but it’s immoral, it’s not within the spirit of the game in the way it’s played over here and I don’t really think he gives a damn.
“If it’s gone on in different countries… that’s not the country he’s managing in right now. He absolutely has to change.
“He’s had a lot of plaudits this year. A lot of people talking him up big time in terms of what he has produced with a similar set of players that were here last year.
“He’s had lots and lots of praise and he has to take this one on the chin. He doesn’t give much away in interviews but I don’t think he gives a damn to be honest.”
