(REUTERS) - Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has admitted sending a member of his coaching staff to spy on Derby County ahead of their Championship (second-tier) match on Friday (Jan 11), which Leeds won 2-0.
Derby said earlier that local police had spoken to a person acting suspiciously outside their training ground on Thursday.
"It's true there was someone from Leeds United. I am responsible for this incident," former Argentina manager Bielsa told Sky Sports before the game.
"Yesterday I talked to (Derby manager) Frank Lampard and he told me that for him 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 the only (one) responsible for it because I didn't ask for the permission of Leeds United to do that. Without trying to find a justification, I've been using this kind of practice since the qualifications for the World Cup with Argentina. This is not illegal.
"For some people it's the wrong thing to do and for other people it's not the wrong thing to do," added the Argentine, who managed his country's national team from 1998-2004.
Lampard was critical of Bielsa’s actions.
“At least on a sportsman’s level it’s bad in my opinion,†he said.
“If we’re going to start talking about culturally I did it somewhere else and it was fine then that doesn’t work for me because I don’t believe it is fine on that level,†the former England and Chelsea midfielder added.
“It’s disrupted our build-up to this game.†Lampard said someone was also spotted watching his team training before they played Leeds in August.
“We had somebody the day before our first game against them which we lost 4-1,†he said. “Now Leeds can beat you 4-1 – they’re a fantastic team – but we had someone in the bushes that day.†Sixth-placed Derby are eight points behind leaders Leeds.
Derbyshire Police said they had spoken to a man at the training ground.
"A man was found at the perimeter fence of Moor Farm and was spoken to," they said on Twitter.
"Despite media reports, no damage to the fence was found, and the man was stopped outside the grounds. No arrests were made and the man was sent on his way."
Derby said they were in discussion with Leeds club officials in relation to this incident.
A spokesman for the English Football League said: "We are aware of the reports in relation to an incident at the training ground of Derby County. It is, of course, up to Derby County as to how they progress this matter but as of yet we have received no complaint or contact from the Club." Tottenham Hotspur's Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino, who played under Bielsa for Espanyol and the national team, was asked whether he would consider spying on opponents.
"I played for him, I learned a lot from him, the good and the not so good," Pochettino told reporters ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester United.
Pochettino said he would not adopt similar tactics to prepare for the United game.
"No, no, but it's nothing wrong to try to find a bit more information about what the opposition is doing. It used to happen in Argentina, not only Marcelo.
"Many managers in Argentina used to send people to watch the training sessions. Here it maybe is a little bit weird but in Argentina it happened. It's not a big deal what happened."
Derby, sixth in the Championship standings, are eight points behind Leeds.
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