LEICESTER City chiefs were left furious after drones were used to spy on first-team training sessions days before a Premier League clash.
Camera-bearing devices were flown over top players including England star James Maddison and manager Brendan Rodgers as they worked on secret drills this week.
GettyLeicester City chiefs were left furious after drones were used to spy on first-team training sessions – pictured England star James Maddison[/caption]
Getty – ContributorCamera-bearing devices were flown over top players[/caption]
Manager Brendan Rodgers was also seen being spied on by the devicesGetty
Security guards at the club, who play Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow, confronted the drone operator outside the club’s training base.
He told them he was entitled to fly them above the facility from outside the perimeter.
Footage later emerged online of the club’s security boss threatening to call cops and clips of the players training and planning set-pieces.
A source said: “The man was insistent he wouldn’t leave. He filmed drills which are supposed to be kept confidential.
They’re a key part of team tactics and opponents finding out about them before a game would be a huge problem.
“After the session the squad discussed it. We’ve since been told the club are taking it further as similar things have happened before and to rivals.
“Some footage has already been on YouTube and TikTok. Who knows where else it goes?”
Former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa admitted sending a club employee to spy on Derby County in training before a Championship match in 2019.
The club was fined £200,000 by the English Football League who said the move was unsporting but not illegal.
The EFL introduced a law forbidding viewing opponents’ training sessions in the 72 hours before a match.