Shaun Harvey, the chief executive of the EFL, was a special guest on the Jim White show on talkSPORT on Friday.He discussed the ongoing ‘Spygate’ saga, which saw Leeds United send a staff member to spy on opponentsDerby County in training and Marcelo Bielsa subsequently admit he has done the same to all his team’s rivals.The EFL have received 11 complaints from Championship clubs about Leeds and Bielsa’s conduct and have launched an investigation.Here’s what Harvey, once CEO of Leeds, had to say about the episode involving his old club…
3What was your first reaction when you first heard about spygate?
It started to eek out last Thursday and the subsequent admissions have raised its profile since. There are many issues in football that divide opinion and this one, in its own right, has.When you look at the different reactions of clubs and media and supporters, half say good on you and the other half say its outrageous so were in this situation depending on where your personal view falls. Whats interesting, as was revealed by one of the national newspapers, is that 11 clubs have asked for some more specific information and I think theyre quite within their rights to want to do that.
3Have you (the EFL) replied to the clubs who complained?
Weve acknowledged receipt of the points that theyve made and Leeds have still got to respond formally to the questions weve asked them, and theyve still got the time to be able to do that.“Theyre quite rightly trying to focus and concentrate on the football this weekend and thats ultimately also what they should be allowed to do.The matter that Steve (Bristol City owner Steve Lansdown, who called for Leeds to receive a points deduction) refers to is that side of the view and its something we do need to look at. Theres always a balance between profile building and getting on and doing the right thing. It will be a case of finding the balance.READ MORE:Leeds United should be deducted points for Spygate scandal, Bristol City owner tells talkSPORT
Ultimately the rules of the EFL are decided by the clubs. The executive, we perform a function to help the clubs achieve a set of rules around the competition that they want in place. If the majority of clubs want to put in effectively an anti-espionage rule then theres no reason why that can happen.
3Will you end up introducing a new rule on the recommendation of the clubs?
Any club can make any recommendation for any rule. It only goes onto the books if the majority of clubs support it. The reality is with where we are, and this is a matter of public record, there was no specific rule that we have which says you cannot review another clubs training sessions. There is the principle around acting in good faith towards each other and the question is, has that been broken?The reason I sit on the fence at this stage is that its not for me to decide. And we havent seen all the information. However, if its an issue specifically of concern, the way to address it is to have a specific rule. It does seem to some that this will be overkill but the reality is I have to balance it off against another challenge.Youve already heard me talk about the wonderful work we do in our community. To put an eight-foot solid fence round all the training grounds in 72 communities around the country when were try to attract children to aspire to a career as a footballer – putting an eight-foot fence around every single training ground seems completely counter-productive to what were trying to achieve.Can you rule out punishment for Leeds United?
There was a complaint. There was a complaint from Derby, theres a complaint from 11 clubs. That complaint will have to be considered against the facts that they bring forward, the response that Leeds bring forward and the matter will be determined from there. On the basis that its still live today, thats exactly where I leave this matter.The complaint has to go through a process. Both sides of any argument have got the equal right for their position to be heard. Were not letting it drag on. Its already well under way. Were expecting a response shortly from Leeds and we will look to get the matter clarified and finalised for everyone as quickly as possible.Its got to be determined against the rules to see where the independent panel will take any potential punishment. Theres no clarity that can be provided, positive or negative. The action happened, it needs to be dealt with. The one commitment I am able to make to Leeds supporters, and indeed the supporters of others clubs, is that whatever outcome were going to get to, were going to get there as quickly as is humanly possible.Listen back to talkSPORT’s interview with EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey IN FULL above!
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