The heat is on at the Premier League, with the reveal of the first case of espionage between Liverpool and Manchester City. According to The Time, the Reds hacked the Citizens’ database in order to steal the names of players they were scouting.

According to the article, this happened back in 2013. City hired several internet security experts to improve their systems, finding, during their study, the database breach of their scouting system. The

two clubs ultimately settled the case without involving the Premier League, according to the article’s author.

Scout7, part of OptaPro, is a database that allows users to study the performances of over 500.000 players all over the globe. According to The Times, Liverpool paid Manchester City a million pounds to shush all accusations of espionage from the current Premier League champions.

The quiet settlement was reached back in September 2013, after Manchester City hired tech-espionage experts to check if their systems had been breaches. The alarm bell first rang at the Etihad Stadium, when they noticed their rivals show undue interest in the potential hiring of Paolo Fernandes (young football player who, back then, played for Zaragoza before ultimately signing a contract with City).

All eyes are on the three scouts who left Manchester to scout for Liverpool, including Michael Edwards, current Sports Director at the Anfield club.

The Times also claims that, if the previous rumors are proven to be true, Liverpool’s actions would have gone against several established Premier League rules that require all clubs to “display towards the League, as well with all other clubs, in nothing but good faith.”