Leeds United have been handed a £200,000 fine over the ‘Spygate’ drama that engulfed the club, but talkSPORT pundit Lee Sharpe has claimed the EFL made a ‘mountain out of a molehill’ over the whole thing.
The drama came about when one of Marcelo Bielsa’s coaching staff was found stood on public land observing one of Derby County’s training sessions, which is not directly outside the rules of the game.
The English Football League, however, considered the Whites to be in breach of one rule relating to operating within “good faith” of other sides, and will now use the situation to bring about a new regulation to prohibit clubs from viewing opposition training sessions within 72 hours of a game.
Finally having a decision will allow us to move forward and refocus all of our efforts solely on results that can determine promotion, rather than working under a grey cloud that could scupper Bielsa’s work.
For former Leeds United midfielder Sharpe, however, even being handed a fine is too severe of a punishment, as the now TalkSPORT pundit believes the EFL exaggerated what went actually on.
“It was frowned upon by a lot of people,” Sharpe told talkSPORT. “But I think it was made a mountain out of a molehill.
“I think it should have been a slap on the wrist. He’s done absolutely nothing wrong, he’s not broke the rules.
“When he came out in the press and did the whole slideshow of how in-depth he goes into each game and each opponent, what he would have got from one training session was more to satisfy his OCD.
“A lot of the Leeds fans thought they were guna get points deducted, I’m glad to see that’s not happened and that they’ve not been punished points wise.”
“They should’ve just got a slap on the wrist. They’d not broken any rules.”
“It was a distraction… They can pay the fine and just get on with it.”
Lee Sharpe says #lufc‘s £200k fine for Spygate is harsh.
Do you agree? ???? pic.twitter.com/jD4u9A4XBN
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) February 19, 2019