With last night seeing a joint statement from the EFL and Leeds United as we brought the whole overblown ‘Spygate’ affair to a close, it’s safe to say the topic won’t be closed yet.
In amongst the vitriol aimed at the complainants and the EFL for effectively plucking a fine out of nowhere, there was an obvious sense of relief that despite the overreaction to standing on public ground, it wasn’t the points deduction that some simpletons in football and the wider media had called for.
Reactions amongst fans were interested as you don’t need to look long on social media to see some opposition fans chipping in with their surprise that with no rule actually broken, such a big fine was levied.
Some of the best reactions came from our own fanbase though, and some I really can’t print and even this small selection doesn’t do it the justice it probably deserves given the breadth of comments.
Always loved the EFL honest
— Scott Simpson (@Scottashlufc) February 18, 2019
Thank god we haven't lost points
— sam hardie (@samhardi3_) February 18, 2019
About time ffs. £200k okay then. Time to move on and get Leeds promoted 🙂 #ALAW
— Kelly ???????? (@kellyann2407) February 18, 2019
Bielsa is bigger than the EFL
— vela (@cvelz11) February 18, 2019
Don’t agree with the fine but could have be so much worse. Time to put this behind us and get on with winning the league. #ALAW
— JSL (@LUFCracing) February 18, 2019
So what Leeds need to do now, is stop all managers, coaches ect, coming to Elland Rd, to watch Leeds, if watching on a public foot path is gaining an unfair advantage, watching in the stands, watching live televised games is also.
— Gorey White Mike Wharton (@Michael49983186) February 18, 2019
What about the dan James transfer then? Was that good faith ????????
— jamie riding (@jamieriding27) February 18, 2019
Where on earth have they plucked £200k from? ????
— Just Chris (@Chrisisi) February 18, 2019
Not bad for 'falling short' ???? Wonder what the fine is for officially breaking a rule then in this case? The @efl cash cow once again. Onwards and upwards #lufc #MOT #ALAW #SpyGate
— Stephen Nichols (@Stephen_LUFC) February 18, 2019
Struggling to understand the high fine when no real or clear rule broken. It's interpretation only! No stating a rule will be created seems like we just been used as a test case and fined so high as a deterrent others.
— Ryan Newby (@RyanRyannewby) February 18, 2019
The EFL found Leeds breached rules over treating teams with "good faith".
What about all the diving and stamping on players heads that goes on? Good faith? Ok, take the fine, but is the so called good faith act down to #SpyGate only?
— Trev Child (@trevchildy) February 18, 2019
More interested in the standard of the refereeing being improved, var, etc.
— Steven Rollason (@StevenRollason1) February 18, 2019
Regulation 3.4 provides that ‘in all matters and transactions relating to the League, each Club shall behave towards each other Club and The League with the utmost good faith. Right can of worms. Every dive, timing wasting and the rest is the same
— Luke (@luke_high) February 18, 2019
Polite reminder that the EFL and FA haven't fined a club a penny for racist chants, throwing bananas, sexual harassment, diving, time-wasting or paying off agents.
Leeds will pay £200k for an intern with a pair of binoculars because it's "not what we do in this country".
— Sophie Levin (@sophielevin11) February 18, 2019
Having raised the generality about Regulation 3.4 and its potential application to so many in the game stating wrongly about the arrest, criminal damage and wirecutters malarky, I’m so pleased so many picked up on how that rule can now be used when it comes to deliberate simulation and so on.
Utter can of worms if it’s chased down properly now and the EFL have brought it all on themselves.