Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa has shouldered the full responsibility for the spy row ahead of the match with Derby at Elland Road.
County have claimed a man escorted from the perimeter of their training ground by police on Thursday after "acting suspiciously" was an employee of promotion rivals Leeds.
The Rams travel to Sky Bet Championship leaders Leeds on Friday night, with the two clubs separated by eight points in the table.
Derbyshire Police attended County's training ground on Thursday after a man was seen at the perimeter fence of the Moor Farm complex.
And the Rams claimed on Friday afternoon that the individual was a member of staff at the Yorkshire club.
"I've been expecting you Mr. Lampard..."
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC)
Marcelo Bielsa on spy row
WATCH: Marcelo Bielsa admits he was behind spy-gate and that he has been using similar tactics for year.
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball)
📺 Watch live on Sky Sports Football:
Argentinian boss Bielsa has claimed full responsibility for the stunt, telling Sky Sports through an interpreter: "It's true there was someone from Leeds United, the responsibility of this is me, I am responsible, there is some precision that I need to give.
"It doesn't matter if this is legal, illegal, right or wrong, for me it's enough that Frank Lampard and Derby County felt it was not the right thing to do. I didn't behave well."
He added: "Yesterday I talked to Frank Lampard and he told me I didn't respect fair play.
"I have a different point of view on it but the important thing is what Frank and Derby think. I am responsible for it because I didn't ask for Leeds United permission to do it.
"Without trying to find a justification, I have been using this kind of practice since the qualifications for the World Cup 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 things, for others it's not."
Fuming Frank Lampard
"I don't care if it is cultural. I am not buying it." 😡
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball)
Frank Lampard responds to Marcelo Bielsa admitting to sending a spy to Derby training.
📺 Watch live on Sky Sports Football:
'Disgusting' - Keith Andrews and Darren Bent
"It is quite disgusting. I don't think he gives a damn"
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball)
Keith Andrews and Darren Bent react to Marcelo Bielsa admitting to spy incident.
📺 Watch live on Sky Sports Football:
Reaction elsewhere
Frank Lampard says it’s the SECOND time Leeds have spied on Derby this season while ex-Derby striker Darren Bent says if Bielsa wasn’t doing so well then he could lose his job over the row.
— John Cross (@johncrossmirror)
"It's disgusting" says Leeds have cheated by trying to spy on Derby County.
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport)
Agree? Should anything happen to Leeds following Bielsa's admission?
📻
You might think he's cool or that he's a great character etc, but if it transpires that Bielsa employed somebody to spy on Derby County's training then he's also a cheat.
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT)
I think what makes this whole Bielsa & stuff even better is that the Leeds manager quite clearly doesn’t give a toss either.
— Sam Inkersole (@Sam_InkersoleTM)
Wow. Bielsa admits he requested the individual to spy on Derby training and he didn’t see it as unlawful as it’s something he’s done for years. He calls it a tactic. Personally, I think it’s immoral and should be punished. It’s certainly added extra fire to the game now
— Jules Breach (@julesbreach)
If Derby lodge complaint over spygate then Leeds could be in breach of EFL regulation that clubs must behave with "utmost good faith" towards each other. No specific sanction stipulated
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler)
