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I mean, they do watch replays and do data analysis too, right? Sure there is a difference, but to me, it's not a whole lot of difference.

Edit: I'm sure they don't refrain from watching the opponents playing against other teams too...

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The difference is that this was during practice sessions.

The "unsportsmanlike" aspects isn't about the difference in intelligence gathered, but avoiding the need for every team to run counter-surveillance operations.

That’s the trouble—it’s zero-sum waste that becomes mandatory if it’s permitted.

Right.

Sports is definitively not war, and not all is fair. Otherwise why ban doping, or disapprove of Tanya Harding getting her competitor kneecapped, etc.

It's a difference seeing what lineup they prepare for the match against you and specifically prepare for that, preparing for set pieces they're practicing to use against you, seeing where they're practicing to place their next penalty kick etc. - vs just general prep based on public information.

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