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EFL Playoffs 25/26
Comments
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Sod all.killerandflash said:What will the EFL do over Spygate though...3 -
No, he definitely meant Spygate.siblers said:
Centre back should have dealt with it.The Red Robin said:Good keeper Brynn but he’s got that so wrong
Sky commentator said along the lines of 'this might not be over yet' at full time
Thought he was mplying they could potentially be thrown out over the spying scandal but guess its to do with the Bellis incident0 -
"At the EFL we take the allegations against Southampton seriously, and having investigated them thoroughly are left with no choice but to disqualify Southampton from the playoffs.
In their place in the Championship playoff final, Hull City will instead play Millwall."22 -
If found guilty there needs to be a significant punishment. Leeds got fined 200k under Bielsa but that’s small change if you manage to get to the PL because of cheating.fenaddick said:
The panel do have the power to remove them from the play offs…killerandflash said:What will the EFL do over Spygate though...1 -
It will be a fine if they’re found guilty I reckon. I can’t see the EFL opening up the can of worms of kicking them out, it would be messy.1
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Morris is a class act , wouldn't mind looking to MLS for someone of that ilk.cafcnick1992 said:Thought Ayling and Morris were good for Boro tonight1 -
EFL have a real mess to sort here. If Southampton do go up, no-one will take ownership of the situation and it will probably result in a points deduction in April as soon as they are relegated.0
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What did the EFL do with Bielsa and Leeds in the end when they spied on Derby?0
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200k fine I believe.The Red Robin said:What did the EFL do with Bielsa and Leeds in the end when they spied on Derby?6 -
'Southampton are likely to face a sporting sanction, such as forfeiting the match, rather than a fine if they are found guilty of spying charges that could affect their promotion bid to the Premier League.The EFL is aiming for the “spygate” disciplinary hearing against Southampton, plus any appeal that may follow, to be concluded before the play-off final on May 23. Although an independent panel will make the decisions on the timing, it will be made fully aware of the timescale of the final and how vital it is for the case to be concluded before then.It means that Middlesbrough could still be involved in the climax of the Championship season even if they lose to Southampton in Tuesday night’s semi-final second leg.A rule introduced in June 2019, after a spying incident involving Leeds United at Derby County’s training ground, specifically makes it an offence to observe another club’s training session within 72 hours of a match between the two clubs. Insiders believe that now clubs know spying is banned outright, anyone found to have broken the rule can expect a sporting sanction rather than the kind of fine handed out to Leeds. If Southampton are found guilty by an independent commission, they could end up forfeiting a place in the final if they beat Middlesbrough.Another possible sanction is that they could forfeit the first leg of the play-off, which would be awarded as a 3-0 win to Middlesbrough. If Southampton lose in the semi-final, they could be given a points deduction for next season. Southampton would be able to lodge an appeal to an EFL board, and the intention would be for that to be expedited too, as it would be a hugely complicated scenario for any sporting sanction to be applied after the play-off final. Southampton would not be able to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport however.Middlesbrough will continue preparations for the final even if they lose the semi. Their head coach, Kim Hellberg, who has described the alleged spying on his team’s training session as “immoral”, has said he has a plan in place for his players and himself to be at work for another two weeks.'4
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thanks @stackitsteve0
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Deffo the defenders fault that goal.He just moves away from the ball1
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I do think the media are whipping this up to be a slightly bigger story than it actually is. There is surely absolutely no way Southampton are going to be kicked out the play offs over this.
It is less than two weeks away from the final, so to suggest any hearing can be completed and an outcome delivered in reasonable time to then allow Boro to prepare adequately for the final is fanciful really. Hull might also argue that they have spent all their time preparing for one opponent to then have to prepare for another with what will likely be a few days notice.
That's without the fact Southampton will have a right of appeal which they will obviously take up if they are booted out.
I'm not condoning what has alleged to have happened but with all the data and statistics out there have they really gained such a significant advantage by sending a coach to watch a training session?
Clearly it is against the rules but as are lots of things. I'm convinced they will likely receive a big fine and perhaps a points deduction at worst11 -
^^ that’s why it’s such a mess and as you say the timescale involved makes it really difficult for all the reasons you stated. Boro are still going to prepare for the final in case they are reinstated but how are Hull City supposed to prepare for facing either opponent at short notice. Then there are the logistics of allocations, ticketing etc etc.
However, rules are rules and they were put in place specifically after the Bielsa incident. Initial hearing must be heard by Friday and any appeal by next Monday latest otherwise this will become a bigger farce than it already is.0 -
Looking forward to seeing Southampton start the 2027/28 Championship season on minus six points.4
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The thing that baffles me is why you'd even feel the need to send someone to spy on them. You've played them twice in the league, you've got 44 other games to watch footage from, you realistically already know how they're going to play and could probably have named 9-10 of their starting lineup.
I also think Boro are playing on this a bit too much. Regardless of the spy, they were the better side across the two legs and if they'd taken their chances they'd be going to Wembley. They absolutely murdered Southampton in the first leg, particularly in the first half when they had 76% possession and 17 shots. Based on that the spy was pretty fucking useless. But ultimately the same thing that cost Boro at home to us, Portsmouth, Millwall and Bristol City in their last few home games was their problem, they couldn't convert chances. They had over 75 shots in those 4 games and got 1 point.
I'm not defending what Southampton did by any means, as i think it's absolutely pathetic of them, but i honestly don't think it had any bearing on the result.13 -
I find it hard to believe that the manager didn’t know about it.
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The EFL would of been desperate for Boro to win. Now they have a tricky situation. Deadline is a day before the final. Obviously Southampton will contest anything that leads to them being chucked out of the final so I can't see what they can do and if Southampton go up they can't impose a points deduction as they have no power over the premier League which is a joke in itself. They should work together.0
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Thing is if they just fine them then it just opens the door for others to cheat as long as you can foot the bill if you get caught.2
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Just listening back to 5 live EFL podcast which is a play off special. No mention of us even though we have possibly the greatest final ever and the st Andrews play off match when we were homeless against the "champions of Europe" Leeds. Plus you could say Bauer in the last minutes of the game should also be spoken about.
Wonder if it has anything to do with Lyle Taylor being in the studio and his Wimbledon play off win was all that was mentioned, doesn't help that the presenter who is a womble.
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I don't think they can just fine them. Leeds got a fine and after that incident an official rule was put in place that they've now broken so the sanction will surely be more serious.Karim_myBagheri said:Thing is if they just fine them then it just opens the door for others to cheat as long as you can foot the bill if you get caught.
Also what are Middlesbrough doing now? Officially their season is over and they'll all be wanting to go on holiday. Are they now supposed to stick around and train every day just in case they get reinstated and have to play in the final at short notice?
Personally i'd be surprised if the EFL kick Southampton out though. I think it'll be a fine plus a points deduction.1 -
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I’m not sure I’d say Boro were the better side last night. Especially not in the second half.Chris_from_Sidcup said:The thing that baffles me is why you'd even feel the need to send someone to spy on them. You've played them twice in the league, you've got 44 other games to watch footage from, you realistically already know how they're going to play and could probably have named 9-10 of their starting lineup.
I also think Boro are playing on this a bit too much. Regardless of the spy, they were the better side across the two legs and if they'd taken their chances they'd be going to Wembley. They absolutely murdered Southampton in the first leg, particularly in the first half when they had 76% possession and 17 shots. Based on that the spy was pretty fucking useless. But ultimately the same thing that cost Boro at home to us, Portsmouth, Millwall and Bristol City in their last few home games was their problem, they couldn't convert chances. They had over 75 shots in those 4 games and got 1 point.
I'm not defending what Southampton did by any means, as i think it's absolutely pathetic of them, but i honestly don't think it had any bearing on the result.
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This is not in defence of what Southampton did, but I think being kicked out of the play off final would be too harsh.A big fine (a lot more than the Leeds £200k) and a points deduction for next time they are in the championship (obviously that’s a gamble as they may stay in the premier league) is minimum they should be given though.
Maybe there should be a personal fine and/or ban for the staff involved in the situation too. Players are personally fined for situations all the time, so why not non-playing staff too.2 -
I think that whoever did the spying will become the sacrificial lamb. Whether or not he was acting under orders from above, he will fall on his sword, and admit he did it off his own back.
He will lose his job, Southampton will get a rap on the knuckles, and the ‘guilty’ chap will be looked after by the club when all the dust has settled.
Call me a cynic, but Southampton know there is just too much at stake for them to come clean.1 -
It’s the perfect opportunity for the EFL to make a landmark statement to all clubs…if you deliberately break the rules, there will be consequences…as already suggested, award the first game 3-0 to Middlesbrough.2
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letthegoodtimesroll said:It’s the perfect opportunity for the EFL to make a landmark statement to all clubs…if you deliberately break the rules, there will be consequences…as already suggested, award the first game 3-0 to Middlesbrough.But they've already set a precedent with Leeds... They got a £200k fine when they did it a few years back, so if Southampton get a stronger penalty, they've surely got reasonable grounds for appeal0
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No precedent set as they changed the rules after LeedsForeverAddickted said:letthegoodtimesroll said:It’s the perfect opportunity for the EFL to make a landmark statement to all clubs…if you deliberately break the rules, there will be consequences…as already suggested, award the first game 3-0 to Middlesbrough.But they've already set a precedent with Leeds... They got a £200k fine when they did it a few years back, so if Southampton get a stronger penalty, they've surely got reasonable grounds for appeal12
