You must log in or register to see images
Southampton have been expelled from the play-offs...
- Thread starter Smug in Boots
- Start date
-
Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
-
Need to blame their club for cheating
Ross Stewart must wish he'd bought that Gypsy's lucky heather now!
He's fought back from terrible injuries, signed for a club that was relegated yet reached the PL play-off again.
Now he's been denied his third chance of playing in the Premier League ...
... if he picks up an injury at Scotland's World Cup training camp he'll probably be up for murder
He's fought back from terrible injuries, signed for a club that was relegated yet reached the PL play-off again.
Now he's been denied his third chance of playing in the Premier League ...
... if he picks up an injury at Scotland's World Cup training camp he'll probably be up for murder
Check out this TikTok I found!
You must log in or register to see media
Tragic and such a shame for the supporters ...
... yet I still found myself laughing
BTW, do any of your colleagues have birthdays coming up ...
...
You must log in or register to see images
Exactly, and Tonda Eckert using the "I know nothing" excuse like Manuel from Fawlty Towers doesn't wash.
You must log in or register to see images
You must log in or register to see images
its been a weird day,
some have accetped it
some are angry the club ( thinking about stopping their ST over this) saying that they have massively let the club and the fans down
some think that they are in for a relegation battle next season ( rumours that most of the squad want out)
some have accetped it
some are angry the club ( thinking about stopping their ST over this) saying that they have massively let the club and the fans down
some think that they are in for a relegation battle next season ( rumours that most of the squad want out)
Southampton response in the link below
EFL transfer news, rumours and gossip for Championship, League One and League Two
https://www.skysports.com/share/13163353
EFL transfer news, rumours and gossip for Championship, League One and League Two
https://www.skysports.com/share/13163353
You must log in or register to see media
Southampton need to realise that the punishment is not disproportionate. In the league they cheated against Ipswich (2 points deducted), against Oxford (2 points deducted) and in the knockout competition that is the play offs (thrown out of competition). If they'd been caught cheating before a winning FA Cup match, I'm sure the club and fans would have accepted being kicked out of the competition and be happy in allowing their wronged opponents to take their place. They've just been 'unlucky' that they have been caught cheating in the play offs. Just because there is alot more at stake, it doesnt mean Southampton should be treated more leniently because of it. No matter what the cup competition is, the punishment should be the same. Booted out!
Last edited:
What he’s forgetting there with Leeds is there wasn’t such rule in place at the time and has been introduced because of them. They also got knocked out by derby so didn’t gain anything by it. Probably is harsh to those guilty by association like the players and fans but is just to those that instructed the spying and happily broke rules to gain anything advantage
Southampton have released a statement regarding their expulsion from the play-offs, admitting fault and apologising to fans - while also arguing that the ruling was 'manifestly disproportianate' to the offence.
It said...
"We have appealed yesterday's decision by the Independent Disciplinary Commission to expel Southampton Football Club from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs, and to impose a four-point deduction for the 2026/27 season. Before turning to that appeal, I want to address our supporters, our players, and the wider football community directly and without equivocation.
"What happened was wrong. The club has admitted breaches of EFL Regulations 3.4 and 127. We are sorry to the other clubs involved, and most of all to the Southampton supporters whose extraordinary loyalty and support this season deserved better from the club.
"We have provided our full co-operation to the EFL's investigation and disciplinary process. Following the appeal, we will also be writing to the EFL to volunteer our participation in a working group on the practical application and enforcement of Regulation 127 across the Championship. Contrition without change is hollow, and we intend to demonstrate change.
"On the appeal itself: we accept that there should be a sanction. What we cannot accept is a sanction which bears no proportion to the offence. Whereas Leeds United was fined £200,000 for a similar offence, Southampton has been denied the opportunity to compete in a game worth more than £200 million and one which means so much to our staff, players and supporters.
"We believe the financial consequence of yesterday's ruling makes it, by a very considerable distance, the largest penalty ever imposed on an English football club.
"Luton Town's 30-point deduction in 2008/09 — to date the most severe sporting sanction in the English game — was levied against a club already in League Two, with no comparable revenue at stake. Derby County's 21-point deduction in 2021 cost them their Championship status.
"Everton's eventual six-point deduction in 2023/24 followed losses of £124.5 million, a figure dwarfed by what has been taken from Southampton in a single afternoon.
"The largest financial penalty ever levied by the Premier League, against Chelsea in March of this year, was £10.75 million, and was accompanied by no sporting sanction whatsoever despite involving £47.5 million in undisclosed payments over seven years.
"We say this not to minimise what occurred at this club, which we have accepted was wrong. We say it because proportionality is itself a principle of natural justice.
"The Commission was entitled to impose a sanction. It was not, we will argue, entitled to impose one that is manifestly disproportionate to every previous sanction in the history of the English game.
"Our appeal will be heard today, and we will provide a further update in due course."
You just cant claim to be too severely punished on this hypothetical "£200 million". You havnt been fined "£200 million" You've been kicked out of a knockout competition because you cheated your direct opponents. And in doing so potentially slamming the door on Middlesborough potential "£200 million". Surely if Southampton were to be 100% successful in their appeal, Middlesborough can then sue Soton for this hypothetical "£200 million" loss of earnings? Not to mention either Southampton or Middlesborough have Hull standing between themselves and their "£200 million". If Hull lose the final against either club, can they sue Soton for "£200 million" as they can claim their whole game preparation has been crippled due to Soton's cheating?
It said...
"We have appealed yesterday's decision by the Independent Disciplinary Commission to expel Southampton Football Club from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs, and to impose a four-point deduction for the 2026/27 season. Before turning to that appeal, I want to address our supporters, our players, and the wider football community directly and without equivocation.
"What happened was wrong. The club has admitted breaches of EFL Regulations 3.4 and 127. We are sorry to the other clubs involved, and most of all to the Southampton supporters whose extraordinary loyalty and support this season deserved better from the club.
"We have provided our full co-operation to the EFL's investigation and disciplinary process. Following the appeal, we will also be writing to the EFL to volunteer our participation in a working group on the practical application and enforcement of Regulation 127 across the Championship. Contrition without change is hollow, and we intend to demonstrate change.
"On the appeal itself: we accept that there should be a sanction. What we cannot accept is a sanction which bears no proportion to the offence. Whereas Leeds United was fined £200,000 for a similar offence, Southampton has been denied the opportunity to compete in a game worth more than £200 million and one which means so much to our staff, players and supporters.
"We believe the financial consequence of yesterday's ruling makes it, by a very considerable distance, the largest penalty ever imposed on an English football club.
"Luton Town's 30-point deduction in 2008/09 — to date the most severe sporting sanction in the English game — was levied against a club already in League Two, with no comparable revenue at stake. Derby County's 21-point deduction in 2021 cost them their Championship status.
"Everton's eventual six-point deduction in 2023/24 followed losses of £124.5 million, a figure dwarfed by what has been taken from Southampton in a single afternoon.
"The largest financial penalty ever levied by the Premier League, against Chelsea in March of this year, was £10.75 million, and was accompanied by no sporting sanction whatsoever despite involving £47.5 million in undisclosed payments over seven years.
"We say this not to minimise what occurred at this club, which we have accepted was wrong. We say it because proportionality is itself a principle of natural justice.
"The Commission was entitled to impose a sanction. It was not, we will argue, entitled to impose one that is manifestly disproportionate to every previous sanction in the history of the English game.
"Our appeal will be heard today, and we will provide a further update in due course."
You just cant claim to be too severely punished on this hypothetical "£200 million". You havnt been fined "£200 million" You've been kicked out of a knockout competition because you cheated your direct opponents. And in doing so potentially slamming the door on Middlesborough potential "£200 million". Surely if Southampton were to be 100% successful in their appeal, Middlesborough can then sue Soton for this hypothetical "£200 million" loss of earnings? Not to mention either Southampton or Middlesborough have Hull standing between themselves and their "£200 million". If Hull lose the final against either club, can they sue Soton for "£200 million" as they can claim their whole game preparation has been crippled due to Soton's cheating?
Last edited:
Wrexham forward Josh Windass has called for the Championship play-offs to be restarted, with his team involved, following Southampton’s expulsion.
You must log in or register to see images
If their manager thought they were not braking the rules why is the analyst, skulking behind a tree?
Thats exactly what I said, it's bollocks. They're only annoyed because they have been caught.
I still think they will end up playing on Saturday for some reason
100% correct sums it up for me !There is no grounds for appeal and it will not be overturned.Now if this had happened in the premier league well thats another story.Remember when West ham signed Tevez in the January and he just about single handedely were saved from relegation (but the deal was dodgy)and all they got was a either a fine or a small points deduction and shef united had to take them to court for loss of earnings and won 10 million and west ham just laughed at the penalty for cheating as it did not fit the crime.
I hope not as for the first time a club has been punished fairly!Does anybody(obvious exceptions) think the punishment is harsh?
I'd be disgusted if they were allowed to play tbh.
Never mind all the other ways you can cheat, from pulling someone's hair to diving ...
... those are all, in some ways, the heat of the moment.
Southampton sent someone the length of the country to attempt to gain an unfair advantage, fact.
At least 3 times probably more