Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Garth Crooks feels the suggestion that Leeds United should be docked points for the spy-gate incident is stretching it.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side emerged comfortable 2-0 winners against Derby County on Friday to extend their lead at the top of the Championship table, but the news of Bielsa sending someone to spy on Derby's training made all the headlines.




Bielsa even admitted that he sent a spy to the Rams’ training base, and the Argentine manager has received a lot of stick for breaching the code of conduct for sportsmanship.

There have been suggestions that the side should be docked points as the incident affected Derby ahead of their game, but Crooks feels all Bielsa wanted to do was gain an advantage.
 


“I really don't know what the fuss is all about. The very suggestion that Leeds United should be deducted points, because their manager sent his coach to surreptitiously observe Derby County's tactics, is bordering on madness”, Crooks wrote in his column for BBC Sport.

“This sort of thing has been going on for as long as I can remember.
 

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“The reason clubs have their own training ground, and private training sessions in the modern era, is to try to conceal their plans and strategies.

“Can you blame the opposition for trying to find out what those plans are? It would be very strange if they didn't.

“As for Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa, his only crime was being so honest and owning up to the charge. So many don't.”

Leeds ended a two-game losing streak in the Championship with the win against the Rams and will next take on Stoke City.