Frank Lampard refused to comment on Marcelo Bielsa’s latest press conference as the spying row between Leeds and Derby continued to unfold.

Bielsa gave a lengthy presentation to journalists on Wednesday evening while making the frank admission that Leeds had “observed all the rivals” in training sessions prior to playing them in the Sky Bet Championship this season.

It comes after a staff member of Leeds was caught by police at the Derby training ground attempting to gain information ahead of the Friday night fixture, which Leeds subsequently won 2-0, and prompted accusations of spying.

Bielsa went to extreme lengths on Wednesday to show all the detailed analysis he does of opponents aside from covertly watching them train, but Lampard refused to be drawn on the topic once again ahead of Derby’s FA Cup replay with Southampton.

“I made quite a few comments earlier in the week about it,” he told the BBC, referring to his comments ahead of the Friday night fixture.

“I haven’t seen the latest press conference but have been told about it in general terms. It is one to comment on, or not, when I know more about it.

“We have a big game so the last thing I want to do is harp back to details that are not relevant to tonight.”

Former England striker Alan Shearer, working as a pundit ahead of the third-round tie at St Mary’s, admitted that sending in people to watch training sessions was not a new thing, but claimed it was “wrong” to do so.

He said: “It’s very open and honest from him (Bielsa). Watching teams on the sly is nothing new to football.

“When you go away into European games and you train at the stadium the night before, you are almost certain that there is someone from the opposition watching.

“It is nothing new but it is slightly different when it is not an open training session and there is no privacy and anyone can watch you.

“I don’t think it is anything new but it is definitely wrong. You can’t go into someone’s private training ground when you are not invited, and then take information from that. It is different in an open session.”

Ex-England international Jermaine Jenas, who had called for Leeds to be deducted points in the immediate aftermath of Bielsa’s initial comments, added: “It is wrong, as simple as that.

“In terms of punishment, those players are there (top of the league) by merit and have played brilliantly all year. Should they be punished on the basis of what the manager has done?

“We are not all naive but it doesn’t feel right.”