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EFL Playoffs 25/26 (Saints booted out of final and given 4 point deduction - pg34)
Comments
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From the previously highlighted BBC article: Southampton argued that Luton's deduction - which was for entering administration and illegal payments to players - had "no comparable revenue at stake" like the Championship play-off final.
I don't know what else the club said, but it seems once again sporting integrity comes second to finance. I am not claiming any other club would say any different, but it saddens me that this is where sport in general and football in particular is at now.
And, as Rothko says, the idea that there is more at stake for them than there was for Luton is at the very least, questionable.3 -
If they don't get this game on this weekend is Wembley booked out for the summer with concerts and other events.
Just read that Ajax have a play off game that has been moved because of a Harry Styles concert at their home ground.0 -
I think a lot of cheating goes on in games but generally both teams are at it and one team cancels the other other. Players rolling around screaming like they've been shot or broken their leg are up and about a couple of minutes later, 'limping' for a couple of steps before sprinting off like nothing happenedjose said:The reason we have referees in games, for good or bad, is supposed to ensure a fair game, and they have the power to directly deal with cheating such as a dive for a penalty.
There is no sensible comparison to be made with shithousery in a refereed game and secret spying against explicit rules.
Cheating like Southampton have done is on another level. Not sure it will ever be known just how many teams they spied on this season or how all the subsequent matches would have ended had they not. But it is highly likely they would have several points less point and the teams in the play offs could be different as a result - so they should have no further part in the play offs and not have the chance of promotion accordingly6 -
Sorry if I’ve missed it, but the journo who broke the Southampton expulsion is saying we may be one of the clubs to sue the saints!7
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So thats why they schooled us! They watched us at Sparrows Lane and saw we were crap. Time to hide the training ground location.sammy391 said:Sorry if I’ve missed it, but the journo who broke the Southampton expulsion is saying we may be one of the clubs to sue the saints!9 -
In the sense they are asked to clamp down on it and apply the already written rules there is. A foul is a foul. Just because it happens on a certain part of the pitch or only at a set piece doesn’t change that. 🤔jose said:The reason we have referees in games, for good or bad, is supposed to ensure a fair game, and they have the power to directly deal with cheating such as a dive for a penalty.
There is no sensible comparison to be made with shithousery in a refereed game and secret spying against explicit rules.
Of course I’m not arguing equivalence of offences but simply noting the use and application of existing rules to better the game.It was an observation not a major issue.0 -
Gavin Carter on the first episode of the Youtube show next season -sammy391 said:Sorry if I’ve missed it, but the journo who broke the Southampton expulsion is saying we may be one of the clubs to sue the saints!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDKqQPbXSzY 2 -
Right.
So in the future would it be possible for somebody 'caught' spying to be able to persuade the authorities they are doing it on behalf of a club they dislike.
Could I be 'caught' spying on a Fulham training session and say I'm working for Crystal Palace?3 -
Was it Ronnie?ken_shabby said:
So thats why they schooled us! They watched us at Sparrows Lane and saw we were crap. Time to hide the training ground location.sammy391 said:Sorry if I’ve missed it, but the journo who broke the Southampton expulsion is saying we may be one of the clubs to sue the saints!1 -
Happy for you to give it a try and report back!jose said:Right.
So in the future would it be possible for somebody 'caught' spying to be able to persuade the authorities they are doing it on behalf of a club they dislike.
Could I be 'caught' spying on a Fulham training session and say I'm working for Crystal Palace?8 -
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They may have exploited a weakness in our set up and played to it. After they got five goals they didn't get any more. Who knows. It doesn't matter really. The question is not about unknowns but illegality and they have been rightly punished. I do think they have picked two league games they didn't win and didn't affect anything to admit to. This does require a full investigation as if that is the cuture of the clubb under the manager, of course it would have happened more often. The difficulty is getting proof but they always have the risk of whistleblowers. I have a feeling that this isn't over in terms of punishment for them.4
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I think the Charity Shield is being played in Cardiff this year for a similar reason.iaitch said:If they don't get this game on this weekend is Wembley booked out for the summer with concerts and other events.
Just read that Ajax have a play off game that has been moved because of a Harry Styles concert at their home ground.0 -
He’s a prize pillock . Always has beenJohnnyH2 said:
https://x.com/i/status/2057077393001501037SoundAsa£ said:Be interesting to hear what Mike Channon and Matt Le Tissier have to say……both loyal and somewhat outspoken ex players……I imagine they’ll tell it like it is, no holds barred.
Le Tissier's view13 -
They are spouting it’s the biggest punishment ever as if they were already promoted … arrogance ignoring the fact they would have still needed to beat Hull to go up … perhaps they would have, but it’s not definite10
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🚨 Exclusive: Hull City are consulting lawyers to see if they have a case to be promoted straight to the Premier League after Southampton (subject to an appeal) were expelled from the Championship playoffs.
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) May 20, 2026
Hull are unhappy at the prospect of facing Middlesbrough at Wembley having spent over a week preparing to play Southampton. Saints appeal is this evening and they will argue the punishment is too harsh. Hull's players had a pre-planned day off today and will return tomorrow with either two days to prepare for Boro, or potentially learn the final is against Southampton again. Hull are leaving legal avenues open, including the prospect of a challenge after the final.1 -
I'd argue Bury's punishment was a tad bit worse.5
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Sincerely hope Hull go up whatever happens between now and the final. They've been messed around no end through no fault of their own.19
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He might have to disappear to the Saudi league for a few years. Although if his defence of ‘this happens on the continent all the time’ then he could easily find another roleAddickted2TheReds said:Where does Eckert go from here after a, surely, inevitable departure?Will anyone else hire him?0 -
Did the whistle blower not share a picture of an a soldier in camo with the kids face on in the management group? Total ball that Eckert was unaware that it was not allowed. They would have known about Leeds, I hope they all get a lengthy ban- Garner included.cabbles said:
He might have to disappear to the Saudi league for a few years. Although if his defence of ‘this happens on the continent all the time’ then he could easily find another roleAddickted2TheReds said:Where does Eckert go from here after a, surely, inevitable departure?Will anyone else hire him?
Edit: Even if Garner is innocent, I want him banned for serving up Garner Ball
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Not sure how he knows they won’t be reinstated, according to Talksport earlier the hearing wasn’t due to be heard until 6pm tonight although of course that could be wrong.sammy391 said:Sorry if I’ve missed it, but the journo who broke the Southampton expulsion is saying we may be one of the clubs to sue the saints!0 -
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Dipstick!!...not you Johnny...😉JohnnyH2 said:
https://x.com/i/status/2057077393001501037SoundAsa£ said:Be interesting to hear what Mike Channon and Matt Le Tissier have to say……both loyal and somewhat outspoken ex players……I imagine they’ll tell it like it is, no holds barred.
Le Tissier's view0 -
I'm not surprised they're furious. They'd have spent a fortune on spies at the Southampton training ground. And now they have to start again, in Middlesbrough.fenaddick said:🚨 Exclusive: Hull City are consulting lawyers to see if they have a case to be promoted straight to the Premier League after Southampton (subject to an appeal) were expelled from the Championship playoffs.
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) May 20, 2026
Hull are unhappy at the prospect of facing Middlesbrough at Wembley having spent over a week preparing to play Southampton. Saints appeal is this evening and they will argue the punishment is too harsh. Hull's players had a pre-planned day off today and will return tomorrow with either two days to prepare for Boro, or potentially learn the final is against Southampton again. Hull are leaving legal avenues open, including the prospect of a challenge after the final.3 -
Southampton's statement....6 -
The Play offs are a cup competition, if you field an wrong registered or suspended player in a cup competition, you get slung out, they've got some cheek to say, spying on a club in the 72 hour window, isn't that bad.6
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The fighting talk from Southampton chief exec suggests he, at least, is certain they have zero further skeletons in the closet.
Disagree that the punishment outweighs the offence - although he's not going to say otherwise.
The punishment fits the competition, not the offence - cheat in the EFL Trophy, expect to be kicked out the EFL Trophy.
What he should be saying is the risk they took outweighed the reward. That's on them, no one else.
Not long now and we'll hear what the appeal has to say.3 -
Not sure that's true, reads as desperation to meEr_Be_Ab_Pl_Wo_Wo_Ch said:The fighting talk from Southampton chief exec suggests he, at least, is certain they have zero further skeletons in the closet.
Disagree that the punishment outweighs the offence - although he's not going to say otherwise.
The punishment fits the competition, not the offence - cheat in the EFL Trophy, expect to be kicked out the EFL Trophy.
What he should be saying is the risk they took outweighed the reward. That's on them, no one else.
Not long now and we'll hear what the appeal has to say.5 -
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what a messfenaddick said:🚨 Exclusive: Hull City are consulting lawyers to see if they have a case to be promoted straight to the Premier League after Southampton (subject to an appeal) were expelled from the Championship playoffs.
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) May 20, 2026
Hull are unhappy at the prospect of facing Middlesbrough at Wembley having spent over a week preparing to play Southampton. Saints appeal is this evening and they will argue the punishment is too harsh. Hull's players had a pre-planned day off today and will return tomorrow with either two days to prepare for Boro, or potentially learn the final is against Southampton again. Hull are leaving legal avenues open, including the prospect of a challenge after the final.3 -
So Boro are seriously going to try and sell 40,000 tickets in 2 days? It's bonkers and I would suggest totally unachievable without huge problems.PrincessFiona said:https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2026/may/20/ticket-details-for-sky-bet-championship-play-off-final/
Boro selling tickets for the final from 1pm today. Time is of the essence, but the outcome of the appeal hasn't been announced yet
https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/sky-bet-championship-play-off-final-tickets-available-to-all-members
The Sinners one showing a 404 error
On the tickets tab, it saysPlease note that the Ticket Office will be closed on Wednesday 20th May.
I can only remember too well the trouble I had trying to book some hospitality packages at Wembley last year. Really good luck in trying to get Wembley to respond to requests in this time frame.
And how are Boro fans going to get to Wembley? There are engineering works on LNER, meaning a replacement bus service is in place for some of the journey. Fancy taking the coach? Well, you can't just magic up hundreds of coaches at 2 days notice.
And all this only necessary if Southampton's appeal fails.
What an absolute shower of s*** this all is.
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I don't disagree - their appeal, and the words he's publicly said - have drawn a line in the sand. They only did it 3 times.fenaddick said:
Not sure that's true, reads as desperation to meEr_Be_Ab_Pl_Wo_Wo_Ch said:The fighting talk from Southampton chief exec suggests he, at least, is certain they have zero further skeletons in the closet.
Disagree that the punishment outweighs the offence - although he's not going to say otherwise.
The punishment fits the competition, not the offence - cheat in the EFL Trophy, expect to be kicked out the EFL Trophy.
What he should be saying is the risk they took outweighed the reward. That's on them, no one else.
Not long now and we'll hear what the appeal has to say.
Given himself / the club enough rope if further revelations come out.1
