Coincidence or conclusive proof? Take your pick.
In their first game under Marcelo Bielsa in which they had not spied on their opponents' training session the day before, Championship leaders Leeds United succumbed to their sixth defeat of the season.
Those who think the crime is an outrage will claim this result, sealed by a stunning strike from Sam Clucas and a tap-in from Joe Allen, illustrates the competitive advantage the Yorkshire side have been enjoying thanks to the clandestine antics ordered by their Argentinian boss.
Joe Allen celebrates doubling Stoke City's lead against Leeds United at the bet365 stadium
Allen secured victory for the Potters with a goal in the 88th minute
Midfielder Sam Clucas celebrates giving Stoke the lead against Leeds United
Clucas' second goal for the Potters came just four minutes into the second half
Those who think Spygate is an unnecessary sideshow, may point to an excellent performance from a fired-up home side keen to impress new manager Nathan Jones and a red card for Leeds defender Pontus Jansson as the key behind the Potters success.
The answer is probably closer to the latter than the former. Stoke - organised and clever - were superb. Leeds enjoyed plenty of possession but could not find a way though until Ezgjan Alioski found space in injury time to register the final act.
Two things stood out from an otherwise boring first-half - the atmosphere and Charlie Adam being Charlie Adam.
These clubs have history and the volume level was turned up on a freezing Staffordshire afternoon.
Leeds defender Pontus Jansson was given his marching orders after a tackle on Benik Afobe
We did not have to wait long for a Spygate reference. After two minutes chants of 'We're Leeds United, we'll spy where we want,' were belted out of a packed away end, quickly followed by 'The Football League's corrupt'.
Adam, never backwards in coming forward, was quick to have a pop back at the travelling Yorkshire folk who had poked fun at his figure when he went to take a corner. The effervescent 33-year-old then had a word in Pablo Hernandez's ear after the Leeds midfielder had the temerity to fall over when Adam tripped him.
Elsewhere, the visitors bossed the opening exchanges, with academy product Jack Clarke a frequent menace on the right wing. It was following another of the 18-year-old's lively runs that Hernandez scuffed wide
