Just tuned back in but saints fan 4 you are banned from making any predictions going forward
Saints expelled from Play Offs by EFL
- Thread starter tomw24
- Start date
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I'd buy it if they put a BKB match between Solak and Spors on the under card.
Decision expected at 10pm so what should
We discuss in the meantime? Var?
We discuss in the meantime? Var?
I'm not ashamed, I'm very much embarrassed though. I'd be ashamed if we were match fixing, or doping. The EFL have a big part to play in this, and I very much think they will be hastily rewriting the laws in relation to "spying" 72hrs before a game (although you could argue they should have done that in 2019 when Bielsa started this).
"If you're not cheating, you're not trying to win" I've heard that phrase banded around sports for years now, and while it's disgusting to see and hear as a fan, I'm sure it doesn't come as a shock to the people that are in charge of multi million, even billion pound sport clubs/franchises. It's a sport to us, a lifelong hobby to follow, but to them it's just the cut throat business of top tier sports...
Thierry Henry on Southampton expelled for spying drama against Middlesbrough:
“I have to be honest, this is a difficult one. Spying on another team’s training is wrong. Full stop. It crosses a line, it undermines the trust that should exist between clubs, and I understand why Middlesbrough are furious and why the EFL felt they had to act strongly. Integrity matters in this game.
At the same time, I find myself questioning whether expulsion from the play-offs is the right punishment. It feels… heavy. Almost like using a sledgehammer when a precise scalpel was needed.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t match-fixing or doping. It was analysts pushing boundaries for tactical information, something that, sadly, has happened in different forms across the game for years.
Marcelo Bielsa did it openly at Derby and Leeds, admitted it, and people called him a genius, not a criminal. Drones, analysts in trees, whatever, in the modern game with data and marginal gains everywhere, clubs push boundaries.
Southampton admitted it, yes, and they deserve punishment. A heavy fine, points deduction, maybe even a ban for the staff involved. But kicking the entire club out after they earned their place on the pitch? That punishes players, coaches, and fans who had nothing to do with one or two analysts doing something stupid.
What troubles me most is the collateral damage. The players who battled through a tough Championship season after relegation, who went to extra time and scored that late goal to beat Middlesbrough on the pitch, they earned their place in the final through merit.
Now that achievement is being erased because of actions taken by a small number of staff members. That feels disproportionate to me. A significant fine, a points deduction for next season, and sanctions against the individuals responsible, those would be strong, meaningful punishments that address the breach without nullifying an entire season’s competitive work.
Sport has to balance two things: protecting fairness and recognising that human error and ambition sometimes lead people astray. If every rules breach in high-stakes moments leads to rewriting results, we risk turning the disciplinary process into something more powerful than the football itself. I’ve sat in dressing rooms where we prepared meticulously for opponents. Everyone does. The difference is getting caught.
I hope Southampton appeal and that the final decision finds a better equilibrium. Middlesbrough deserve respect, they were wronged but the players of Southampton also deserve not to have their legitimate efforts wiped away. Football is emotional, passionate, and imperfect.
The response to this should reflect wisdom as much as outrage. We need clearer rules going forward so incidents like this become rare, but we must be careful not to let one mistake destroy what was built legitimately on the grass.”
Always liked Henry.
“I have to be honest, this is a difficult one. Spying on another team’s training is wrong. Full stop. It crosses a line, it undermines the trust that should exist between clubs, and I understand why Middlesbrough are furious and why the EFL felt they had to act strongly. Integrity matters in this game.
At the same time, I find myself questioning whether expulsion from the play-offs is the right punishment. It feels… heavy. Almost like using a sledgehammer when a precise scalpel was needed.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t match-fixing or doping. It was analysts pushing boundaries for tactical information, something that, sadly, has happened in different forms across the game for years.
Marcelo Bielsa did it openly at Derby and Leeds, admitted it, and people called him a genius, not a criminal. Drones, analysts in trees, whatever, in the modern game with data and marginal gains everywhere, clubs push boundaries.
Southampton admitted it, yes, and they deserve punishment. A heavy fine, points deduction, maybe even a ban for the staff involved. But kicking the entire club out after they earned their place on the pitch? That punishes players, coaches, and fans who had nothing to do with one or two analysts doing something stupid.
What troubles me most is the collateral damage. The players who battled through a tough Championship season after relegation, who went to extra time and scored that late goal to beat Middlesbrough on the pitch, they earned their place in the final through merit.
Now that achievement is being erased because of actions taken by a small number of staff members. That feels disproportionate to me. A significant fine, a points deduction for next season, and sanctions against the individuals responsible, those would be strong, meaningful punishments that address the breach without nullifying an entire season’s competitive work.
Sport has to balance two things: protecting fairness and recognising that human error and ambition sometimes lead people astray. If every rules breach in high-stakes moments leads to rewriting results, we risk turning the disciplinary process into something more powerful than the football itself. I’ve sat in dressing rooms where we prepared meticulously for opponents. Everyone does. The difference is getting caught.
I hope Southampton appeal and that the final decision finds a better equilibrium. Middlesbrough deserve respect, they were wronged but the players of Southampton also deserve not to have their legitimate efforts wiped away. Football is emotional, passionate, and imperfect.
The response to this should reflect wisdom as much as outrage. We need clearer rules going forward so incidents like this become rare, but we must be careful not to let one mistake destroy what was built legitimately on the grass.”
Always liked Henry.
I’d imagine they’d try to sort a deal tonight. Can’t see us being reinstated but possibly the points being reduced to 1 or 2 for next season?
There will be no more hearings after tonight it would then just be personal court battles against us from other clubs or us against the EFL which they will want to avoid.
That’s why I’m surprised if rumours are true that an inexperienced panel were placed on this hearing with so much a t stake.
Well long drive home from Holyhead now so I’ll guess I’ll hear from TalkShite. That should be fun but I’ll imagine it will be all about Villa tonight and rightly so
There will be no more hearings after tonight it would then just be personal court battles against us from other clubs or us against the EFL which they will want to avoid.
That’s why I’m surprised if rumours are true that an inexperienced panel were placed on this hearing with so much a t stake.
Well long drive home from Holyhead now so I’ll guess I’ll hear from TalkShite. That should be fun but I’ll imagine it will be all about Villa tonight and rightly so
Well said. Talking of Henry, Henry famously cheated with the handball, which impacted the sport and competition far more than we did... remind me of his punishment?
No chance being overturned or is there a possibility? You decide. Pray to God now all of you and dont mention that thing you did the other day
That's a hell of a drive mush. Imagine if the unthinkable happens and we're reinstated, you'll be spending the rest of the journey thinking about this forum
I'm gonna go with less than 0.1%...
I do wonder that whilst the club hope the decision is overturned, the top brass Lawyer makes it clear the consequences of not reinstating us.
I would think they will make it very clear the legal process we will go through, which is likely to include a full 46game review of other spying events.
They will likely find other teams doing the same as us which will be the EFLs undoing here.
If they prove other have done the same as us, the EFL will have a major issue on their hands on how they keep the same level of sanctions to what could be over half the Championship.
I’d imagine the other clubs that know they aren’t squeaky clean are rather ruining the EFLs first punishment.
This would be far from over if they do not overturn the original decision on who plays in the final.
I would think they will make it very clear the legal process we will go through, which is likely to include a full 46game review of other spying events.
They will likely find other teams doing the same as us which will be the EFLs undoing here.
If they prove other have done the same as us, the EFL will have a major issue on their hands on how they keep the same level of sanctions to what could be over half the Championship.
I’d imagine the other clubs that know they aren’t squeaky clean are rather ruining the EFLs first punishment.
This would be far from over if they do not overturn the original decision on who plays in the final.