In a revelation that adds a fascinating new layer to one of English football's most infamous scandals, former Leeds United forward Kemar Roofe has claimed that spying on Marcelo Bielsa's training sessions was astonishingly easy—because the gates were never locked.
The explosive 'Spygate' affair of 2019 sent shockwaves through the Championship after it emerged that Bielsa had dispatched a staff member to observe Derby County's training ahead of a crucial fixture. The incident sparked moral outrage, a formal EFL investigation, and a hefty £200,000 fine for the West Yorkshire club.
Now, Roofe, who played under the enigmatic Argentine manager, has pulled back the curtain on the club's mindset during the controversy. Speaking on the My Mate’s A Footballer podcast, the Rangers striker suggested the whole saga was overblown, especially given the lack of security at their own Thorp Arch training complex.
'The Gates Were Always Open'
"The funniest thing about the whole 'spying' situation was that our training ground was wide open," Roofe revealed. "Anyone could have come in and watched us. The gates were always open; you could just drive in. There was no security, no one stopping you."
His comments turn the spotlight away from Leeds' actions and onto the perceived hypocrisy of the outrage. "So for him to get a spy to go and watch another team's training, when literally anyone could have come and watched our training, was mad," he added.
Bielsa's Unapologetic Genius
Roofe's testimony paints a picture of Bielsa not as a cheating manager, but as a singularly dedicated football obsessive. The incident culminated in a now-legendary 70-minute press conference where Bielsa delivered a detailed PowerPoint presentation, dissecting every opponent his team had faced that season to prove his extensive analysis was not limited to spying on one session.
For the players, Roofe explains, the manager's unparalleled commitment was what mattered. "The way he analysed the other teams, he analysed us, he analysed himself… he probably knew what we were having for dinner!" Roofe joked, highlighting the manager's infamous, all-encompassing attention to detail.
Ultimately, Roofe believes the scandal was a media-driven storm that barely affected the squad's morale or focus on their promotion push, a testament to Bielsa's unique leadership and the unwavering belief he instilled in his players.
