Hacked off! City investigate claims of online spying by rival clubs

Manchester City are continuing investigations into an alleged breach of security involving their scouting reports.



Concerns have been raised that a rival club has managed to hack into confidential files online which detail who City have identified as potential signings.

City are yet to complete the investigation and no complaint has yet been registered with the Premier League. But the issue will raise eyebrows among the game’s hierarchy and alert clubs to tighten security measures.

City target: Isco has starred at the Under 21 Championship, scoring in Spain's semi-final win against Norway

Like the majority of Premier League clubs, City utilise the Scout 7 network which has been in operation for 11 years. The Birmingham-based company prides itself on being ‘one of football’s most trusted and respected organisations and now serves more than 150 professional clubs and national associations’.

They say their information is used by more than 2,000 club staff including scouts, managers, administrators, chief executives and sporting directors.

The files are also understood to detail private information about the respective players. However, there is no suggestion Scout 7 is at fault.



Double trouble: Manchester City have already signed Jesus Navas (left) and Fernandinho

Former Blackburn Rovers head of recruitment, Luke Dowling, used the Scout 7 system while at Ewood Park.



He said: ‘Once each person gets a password and log-in you are advised to change that to your personal password. It should only be you that knows it. Unless someone is using it at the same time, it’s difficult to find out if someone has infiltrated it or unless something has been notably altered.



‘Scouts do sometimes talk with scouts from other clubs and of course names of targets get passed around but this case would indicate that someone with prior knowledge of a password has got into the club’s files. It’s something that more companies are wary of with so much information stored within technology these days but ethically, of course, it is wrong.’

City are pushing on with their player recruitment ahead of the new season. They have signed Jesus Navas and Fernandinho in recent weeks and remain eager to sign Real Madrid’s Pepe and Isco of Malaga.

Target: Manuel Pellegrini wants to sign his former Malaga playmaker Isco

Isco, 21, has been a revelation for Spain in the European Under-21 Championships in Israel prompting Real Madrid to once again threaten City’s interest in the £30million-rated attacking midfielder.



He has promised a decision within the week and City hope his relationship with manager Manuel Pellegrini can sway the deal in their favour.



Isco revealed Madrid players Alvaro Morata, Nacho and Daniel Carvajal are trying to tempt him to the Bernabeu this summer but added: ‘In seven days I will decide my future. After the Under-21 Euros I will analyse my situation and make the best choice for my future.