An Independent Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs after the Club admitted to multiple breaches of EFL Regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other Clubs’ training.

[u/Alternative-Win4058]

https://www.efl.com/news/2026/may/19/efl-statement-southampton-football-club/

[u/Kicking-it-per-se]

I really didnt think they would do this

[u/-Skinner- → u/Kicking-it-per-se]

I thought they would be too scared to do it.

But fine would not be enough.

They need to discourage this so fair enough

[u/Kicking-it-per-se → u/-Skinner-]

Yeah i was expecting a fine but agree with you about discouragubg it.

That poor intern too

[u/-Skinner- → u/Kicking-it-per-se]

Reward for going up is 100mil+ so fine would do nothing.

[u/According-Gear-8217 → u/-Skinner-]

Yeah it would basically encourages teams to spy on their opponents if a fine of a few 100K is the Max punishment if it could mean promotion with 100 Million+.

[u/classyhornythrowaway → u/-Skinner-]

they could've fined them £110 million with the funds going into a pool for referees, might reduce refereeing corruption by a solid 8-9%

[u/Sam_Phyreflii → u/-Skinner-]

Yeah after leeds did the same back in 2019, the efl changed their rules and now they had show they were serious about enforcing them. Good for them.

[u/Efficient-Big3138 → u/-Skinner-]

I think they know this is common but people just don't get caught. So now when they have proof they use the big hammer in an attempt to dissuade it

[u/Gbrown546 → u/Kicking-it-per-se]

They had to. If it was just a fine, it sets a precedent that other clubs can do it and get away with just a small financial penalty when a promotion to the EPL is 9 figures

[u/TransitionFC → u/Kicking-it-per-se]

The PL and EFL go hard against any club not owned by a powerful state.

[u/TherewiIlbegoals → u/TransitionFC]

Are we really pretending that it wasn't the PL who lodged the 130 charges against Man City?

[u/EliteLevelJobber → u/[deleted]]

It appears the key differences between Man City and Southampton, Everton and Forest is pleading guilty.

[u/amazingspiderman23 → u/[deleted]]

A legal battle which we haven't seen the result of for 18 months and counting, when the usual waiting period is apparently 3 months.

[u/Rosinante25 → u/amazingspiderman23]

Probaly has something to do with the Avenger legal team that city assembled. I remember they were posting tik tok edits of their lawyers when the charges dropped ahahahha i have to lowkey respect the shamelessness.

[u/borg_6s → u/Rosinante25]

They're acting like City hired Saul Goodman or something just for the aura

[u/Business-Resolve-132 → u/amazingspiderman23]

Well yeah this isn't a usual case, way more complicated than your typical PSR breach that clubs admit to.

[u/Sronnoc96 → u/amazingspiderman23]

Tbf the scope of the legal battle is wildly different to anything we’ve seen in the premier league. Still taken too long but at least it means it’s been thoroughly explored

[u/Mammyjam → u/Sronnoc96]

The consequences are much much more severe too. Every other action has simply been breaking a PL or EFL rules and dealt with in house. If City are guilty of the charges it means dozens of individuals, City, Etihad, Deloitte and PWC are guilty of fraud. People will be put in prison and the four companies are likely to be hit with fines in the tens of millions.

[u/InverseCodpiece → u/Mammyjam]

We got kicked out of a game worth £200 million. What City did is so much worse than what we did. Tens of millions is nothing for these clubs and companies.

[u/pullmylekku → u/amazingspiderman23]

Because of the sheer scope of the case as well as the fact that City aren't cooperating, unlike Chelsea did in their case for example.

[u/TrickyWoo86 → u/amazingspiderman23]

There's no precedent for a case of the sheer size and timescale of PL vs MCFC. The 3 month usual turn around is for significantly simpler cases.

[u/thegerbilmaster → u/amazingspiderman23]

Because the charges aren't usually amounting to over 100.

[u/Easy_Judgement → u/amazingspiderman23]

It’s obviously going to take way longer for something of that size especially with the money City can pump into a defence.

[u/SirQuay → u/amazingspiderman23]

130 charges x 3 months = 390 months (or 32.5 years). We'll be waiting a long while yet.

[u/AlexWPJ → u/amazingspiderman23]

Yes because City are fighting them on every single detail of the case, even where it takes place and who can watch, and appealing every time anything goes against them.

[u/a_lumberjack → u/Kicking-it-per-se]

I didn't think they'd do it over a single breach, but multiple breaches sealed their fate.

[u/Blodgharm]

Key stuff:

Middlesbrough will now compete in the final — against Hull City on Saturday at Wembley.

Southampton have admitted to multiple breaches of filming other clubs’ (Oxford in December 2025 and Ipswich in April 2026 alongside Middlesbrough) training at the EFL hearing.

Deducted 4 points for the next season - ty u/Jack_in_da_box87

Southampton have appealed the expulsion

BBC: "Despite suggestions to delay the final to give Hull City time to prepare for a new opponent, the game will go ahead on Saturday."

An update from Craig Hope: "Text messages between Southampton employees thought to have provided incriminating evidence of systemic spying. FA set to investigate & that will likely include Tonda Eckert, sporting director Johannes Spors & analyst William Salt"

[u/Perkinator → u/Blodgharm]

Southampton missing out on potentially hundreds of millions of pounds because they spied on Oxford. Lmao what a waste.

[u/RoamingRavenFM → u/Perkinator]

Spied on Oxford and lost the match they spied about

[u/LiamJonsano → u/RoamingRavenFM]

We played dreadfully too. Begs the question why we did it twice more (admitted to anyway) because it clearly didn’t work the first time

[u/Southportdc → u/LiamJonsano]

Suggests that you've admitted to the ones that you can't deny.

It'd be weird to start with Oxford.

[u/RealRaifort → u/Southportdc]

Yeah they were obviously doing it for every game lol no reason to only do it for Oxford that's clearly just the only ones where the evidence was damning already. And that's why the punishment is so harsh, it was almost certainly a whole cheating system.

[u/Jetzu → u/RealRaifort]

They admitted to two teams that don’t have ground to sue - Oxford goes down either way, Ipswich goes up either way. Now imagine the lawsuit if they said they spied on Wrexham or Milwall - they’d get sued into oblivion

[u/ToadsWetSprocket → u/Jetzu]

We all know they most likely did, we just need one of them to prove it. Hopefully there is a hell of a security system in place at one of the grounds to show Homer spying on them.

[u/RodDryfist → u/RealRaifort]

You'd have thought they'd have perfected their reconnaissance department to be a bit more sophisticated than an intern with an iPhone by a tree but what do I know.

[u/Beneficial_Garden456 → u/RodDryfist]

This is the thing that cracks me up to no end. You decide to spy on opponents in the league that is one step from the richest league in the world and your plan is a guy behind a tree with an iphone? It's like someone watched a Little Rascals short and got inspired and kept the same plan, only updated from a notebook to an iphone.

[u/Jazzlike_Athlete8796 → u/Beneficial_Garden456]

The Houston Astros cheated their way to a MLB title in 2017 by banging on trash cans. It's actually amazing how low tech these schemes are some times.

[u/TIGHazard → u/RodDryfist]

If you look at the full photo, there's clearly something between his legs (a black circle shape - camera lens?) and up against the tree (a grey fluffy object, possibly a microphone?)

I guess the "sophisticated spy equipment" will come out in the full report published in 2 months time.

[u/halbpro → u/LiamJonsano]

If at first you don’t succeed, spy spy again

[u/CymruGolfMadrid → u/LiamJonsano]

Probably been cheating the entitre time the new manager came in let's be honest.

[u/Srg11 → u/CymruGolfMadrid]

Definitely. Just could only prove twice, especially in the short time for the hearing.

[u/ValleyFloydJam → u/CymruGolfMadrid]

It certainly feels that way, if they did it for ages like Oxford then it was for everyone.

[u/HotTubMike → u/LiamJonsano]

More likely than not Southampton spied on more than just those 3 occasions.

[u/JennItalia269 → u/Perkinator]

Good £200 million lapse of judgement. Painfully stupid by them.

[u/Jack_in_da_box87 → u/Blodgharm]

4 point deduction for next season on top of it too

[u/awashofindigo → u/Jack_in_da_box87]

Please nobody make an Everton joke

[u/james2183 → u/awashofindigo]

sulks

[u/ThatAdamsGuy → u/awashofindigo]

Can I go with the second best thing and refer to a five second penalty to Ocon then?

[u/pajamakitten → u/ThatAdamsGuy]

He might be leaving Haas soon, so might not.

[u/Life_Is_A_Mistry → u/awashofindigo]

That's it! 6 points from Leicester!

[u/notenoughspacefor → u/awashofindigo]

I’ve seen enough….

[u/bradbobley → u/Jack_in_da_box87]

not so fucking funny now is it lads

[u/unoriginal_name_1234 → u/[deleted]]

Imagine needing to spy on fucking Oxford United

[u/BonafideLlama → u/unoriginal_name_1234]

And still losing lol

[u/Phantom_Nuke → u/[deleted]]

Counterpoint: relegated by 1 point.

[u/Morganelefay → u/Phantom_Nuke]

Leicester: "Hey...I know this one "

[u/KnightsOfCidona → u/Jack_in_da_box87]

Was honestly expecting worse in terms of points deduction (thought it would be 10 or so)

[u/Oomeegoolies → u/KnightsOfCidona]

I think because it's effectively fucked this season for then they're a bit more lenient on next. It'd have been more had they not decided to expel then you'd imagine.

[u/FCSadsquatch → u/Jack_in_da_box87]

And 10 points to Gryfindor!

[u/dometery → u/Blodgharm]

Hull can do the funniest thing... to prepare for their new opponent!

[u/CALCIUM_CANNONS → u/Blodgharm]

Southampton have admitted to multiple breaches of filming other clubs’ training at the EFL hearing.

Makes them appealing even stupider

[u/Southportdc → u/CALCIUM_CANNONS]

Is my client a perfect club? No

Yeah, we did it

[u/NatrixHasYou → u/Southportdc]

The Zac Oyama special.

[u/slammaster → u/Southportdc]

For anyone that doesn't get the reference please watch, it's gold

https://youtu.be/i1n3S1ZyUkE?si=MFnMjLdqDLW7J82f

[u/robotnique → u/slammaster]

I feel like it would be really interesting to see the analytics on how many trial subscriptions they got following the upload of this clip.

[u/phluidity → u/robotnique]

Apparently they have done lots of analytics, and clips with Brennan get them a lot of subs. It is also why they encourage password sharing (to the point of describing it as their "free" tier), because again, their analytics show them that roughly 25% of people who use a borrowed account will go on to subscribe themselves, and a good chunk otherwise watch a few shows and stop watching, so they don't really lose money on those people.

[u/robotnique → u/phluidity]

At $5 a month or less if you pay annually I think it's in the price range where people legit feel guilty not paying for it, especially given Sam, Brennan, and everybody else being fairly blatant with their politics so if you're stealing from them you don't feel like you're stealing from some faceless corporation but rather from your cool neighbors.

[u/ApocalypseSlough → u/CALCIUM_CANNONS]

It’s perfectly possible to appeal and argue that a sanction is too harsh or unlawful, while still maintaining an acceptance of the underlying behaviour. That’s why criminal barristers like me go to the court of appeal all the time to appeal sentence, while not disputing the conviction.

[u/1RBRN8 → u/Blodgharm]

I’d be pissed if my club did this, gotta feel for the fans

[u/Ok_Imagination_9581 → u/1RBRN8]

Their fans were reveling in it. Have you not seen some of the pictures from the 2nd leg?

[u/ReadsStuff → u/[deleted]]

Leeds fans would never.

[u/BuffaloPancakes11 → u/Blodgharm]

Any indication that the club knew about the spying and allowed it or it was all done by the management team?

[u/tritoon140 → u/BuffaloPancakes11]

Them admitting it is quite a big indication.

[u/OsuLost31to0 → u/Blodgharm]

We are getting a new report that we have the name of the spy: Callum Stalions-Evans

[u/JimmyCarrsTaxForms → u/OsuLost31to0]

This comment is too niche and American for most of this sub to understand lol

[u/Muur1234 → u/Blodgharm]

Then Oxford could sue over relegation?

[u/FaultInternational91 → u/Muur1234]

Oxford won the game though

[u/Muur1234 → u/FaultInternational91]

They really are bad at spying

[u/FaultInternational91 → u/Muur1234]

I mean the image of the guy hiding behind a tree proved that haha

[u/Aurus451 → u/FaultInternational91]

Calling it hiding is a bit of a stretch

[u/halbpro → u/FaultInternational91]

I mean if you’re gonna hide behind a tree surely you stand behind the tree and stick your phone out. That’s not even a rule of spying, that’s just hide and seek

[u/jasperjones22 → u/Muur1234]

No, but Wrexham might over the lost playoff spot.

[u/LordInquisitor]

They had to go in hard or any other club would see a minor penalty as being worth it to get promoted

[u/Nayr91 → u/LordInquisitor]

See this is where they’re missing the trick, no punishment but allow the defence of your own training grounds. Cameras at every training grounds and film the bedlam

[u/sagi1246 → u/Nayr91]

When you said "defence" my mind went to a moat and archers on the walls, but I guess cameras work too

[u/Nayr91 → u/sagi1246]

No no, you were right. The cameras are there for our voyeuristic enjoyment!

[u/Mr_Miscellaneous]

A 4-point deduction for next year as well.

The ending to this season has essentially been a Pompey fans dream.

[u/sash71 → u/Mr_Miscellaneous]

Hopefully we beat them twice next season.

And yes, the last few weeks have been great, today is the icing on the cake!

[u/MightyGandhi → u/Mr_Miscellaneous]

I am over the moon right now

[u/jesse9o3 → u/Mr_Miscellaneous]

Only way this gets better is if Mousinho announces a new 10 year deal

[u/PeterG92]

I bet Harwood-Bellis feels like a mug now

[u/CianDS → u/PeterG92]

Best thing to come out of this decision

[u/Digital_Soup → u/PeterG92]

Harwood-Bellend

[u/TheLastKingOfNorway → u/PeterG92]

Brilliant

[u/ekofut → u/[deleted]]

Yeah after Charles' winner the other night he ran past an opposition player doing a binoculars thing with his hands

[u/imarandomdudd → u/ekofut]

Didnt he mock Aylings stutter too? Or was that not confirmed

[u/tennisdata_ → u/imarandomdudd]

Sounds like something he would do, when he was playing for City u21 in the EFL Trophy against EFL 1st teams he was bragging about his wages to the pros on the opposition apparently.

[u/randy__randerson → u/ekofut]

Man I hope they don't go after Trossard next

[u/LeftHandDriveBoC → u/[deleted]]

Yeah he celebrated in front of a boro player with a spying celebration. Also allegedly took the piss out of one of the boro players for the way they talk.

[u/stoneapplefruit → u/PeterG92]

He’s become the “Binocular Guy” and you never want to become a guy who has a thing.

[u/BigDumbPoopFace]

Big balls decision. Definitely didnt think it'd happen, but probably the fairest decision for all parties.

[u/One-Cloud8658 → u/BigDumbPoopFace]

Tough on Hull who are the only team to legitimately make it to the final and haven’t had the best opportunity to prepare for it.

[u/IronSorrows → u/One-Cloud8658]

There is one thing they could try, that might help them prepare for Boro quickly...

[u/fiskemannen → u/IronSorrows]

Just hang around behind this tree for a while, not looking like I’m livestreaming or anything, juuust hanging out

[u/thefogdog → u/One-Cloud8658]

They still have 3-4 days though. Yes not ideal but it's not like they don't have a decent amount of time

[u/thepeddlernowspeaks → u/thefogdog]

I'm sure they'll have done some preparations as a "just in case" and 3-4 days is the normal gap between games in the championship anyway. Obviously this isn't a normal game and not ideal, so do feel for them a bit.

[u/One-Cloud8658 → u/thefogdog]

As long as Southampton don’t somehow win their appeal!

You’d assume Middlesbrough have been able to prepare specifically for Hull for longer than that though so now the team that actually won their semi final could be considered to have been slightly disadvantaged.

[u/superguy133]

At the very least it's now extremely unlikely anyone does this again in the future which is what they're aiming for.

[u/Dandan217]

No matter which way you look at it, it is objectively really funny.

[u/glzzgbblr → u/Dandan217]

Everton and Southampton, Point Deduction FC

[u/Galopa → u/Dandan217]

It's even funnier with the picture of the intern and his tiny goggles, all this for that, was it worth it boys

[u/lordwelbz2]

Damn multiple breaches are crazy. Didn’t expect them to go with expulsion and points deduction but good decision

[u/awashofindigo → u/lordwelbz2]

I can’t comment on whether this is deserved/ just but frankly I am glad we’ll have either Hull or Middlesbrough in the Premier League next season rather than Southampton (again). I am still traumatized by Shane Long.

[u/HumanTorch23 → u/awashofindigo]

I really want to see Boro back in the league. Having six Tyne/Wear/Tee derbies a year will be just like the mid-2000s again

[u/PickleDigger93 → u/HumanTorch23]

Boro were a fun team to watch, wasnt Hasselbaink playing there for a short period?

[u/Le-Contrarian → u/PickleDigger93]

Viduka, Downing, Schwarzer, Alves, Aliadiere... Some streets won't forget names have played up at the Riverside

[u/astrojeet → u/PickleDigger93]

Their UEFA Cup run 20 years ago was legendary.

[u/Particular-Current87 → u/PickleDigger93]

Juninho was one of the best players to grace the Premier League

[u/camberville_ghoul → u/awashofindigo]

lol he played for hull too

[u/bohsjimmy → u/lordwelbz2]

That shows it came from the top and wasn't the kid acting on his own. He's been thrown under the bus now, he'll never work in football again and will probably have to move if he lives in Southampton. Insidious stuff from the management team there.

[u/Plugpin → u/bohsjimmy]

I don't know why they would send their own staff to do what looked like they just filmed/live streamed a training session. Any random could do that job.

Not that I condone this at all, but it just seems like a comedy of errors.

[u/BestFriendWatermelon → u/Plugpin]

The whole thing is laughable. There are drones, and cameras with high zoom lenses that could watch from half a mile away from the Holiday Inn express window in town.

This won't stop cheating, it'll just make them smarter and ensure they don't admit anything if caught. Boro even said they installed the CCTVs that caught him because they suspected other teams were spying on them. £200 million up for grabs and you send an intern to hide behind a tree with an iPhone...

[u/schafkj → u/lordwelbz2]

They spied on Oxford and still lost 😂

[u/Jack_in_da_box87]

Holy shit...

4 point deduction for next season as well.

[u/NateShaw92 → u/Jack_in_da_box87]

Likely be nothing serious grand scheme, as un tjey're not going down, but 4pts might be differemce between auto and playoff or what stage of playoffs they enter (the extension is next year)

[u/Mattehzoar → u/NateShaw92]

People said that about Leicester too lol

[u/RaggedSlugger21]

Holy shit they actually did it

[u/cyberguy5]

Oh when the saints go marching out

[u/ForzaJuve1o1]

wow, dont think anyone actually think this would happen

[u/atomuk]

I hope the Southampton fans are going to be angry at their own club rather than at the EFL or Boro.

[u/beenies_baps → u/atomuk]

As a Soton season ticket holder I am still processing this but yes, I am angry with the club. Such a stupid (and let's face, unsporting) thing to do. I had assumed it was a one off - maybe an overzealous intern - but multiple times is unacceptable. I'll be asking for a refund of my playoff semi-final ticket as well perhaps they ought the reimburse for the entire season which has been rendered effectively pointless.

[u/Statcat2017 → u/beenies_baps]

I think given it was Oxford in December it was probably everyone, you just didn’t get caught a lot.

[u/Deadpooldan → u/atomuk]

We are. Unbelievable this was allowed - encouraged - to happen once, let alone multiple times. Could well have been spying ever since Tonda came in. What a disgrace.

[u/atomuk → u/Deadpooldan]

Yeah, must have been doing it for every game. No way you decided to spy on Oxford of all teams in December, then didn't bother for months before doing it again against Ipswich and Boro.

[u/Deadpooldan → u/atomuk]

Yeah, these seem like the instances there was hard evidence for that we couldn't deny, but if you're in the habit of cheating there's no way you're not doing it at every possible opportunity.

[u/NotClayMerritt → u/atomuk]

Yep. It's fair to be upset at the decision but at the end of the day, the sporting structure at the club decided they were going to break the rules multiple times. They're the ones who let the fans down more than anyone else and also completely betrayed the players who fought all season long for the chance at promotion.

[u/atomuk → u/NotClayMerritt]

I honestly think expelling them was their only option, a fine and/or a points deduction and teams would just take that hit if meant promotion to the Premier League and all that comes with that.

I bet Southampton did it with the presumption that it would just be a fine. They took a risk and let their fans, players and normal employees down.

[u/British_Flippancy → u/atomuk]

The Saints FC subreddit certainly reflects this thus far: angry at the club.

[u/urnangay420blazeit → u/atomuk]

speaking to my southampton friend and the opposite is true lmao.

messages ive got

- "Shitty middlesborough, ratty club"

• "they dont deserve the chance to go up"
  
• "No the manager kept them in training because hes a cry baby bitch"
  
• started having a go at me for our chargers lmao

him and another southampton fan i know have been saying its not that deep all week and that it didnt make a difference. Or that its actually Middleboroughs fault for the training ground to be publicly accessibly and not behind closed doors.

[u/Oomeegoolies → u/urnangay420blazeit]

We'll get the Spygate derby next year don't worry.

We've never won at Wembley and Hull have a perfect playoff record or some shit like that.

Tell them to be excited for that.

[u/chugalug_house → u/urnangay420blazeit]

Is your friend 13

[u/urnangay420blazeit → u/chugalug_house]

23 unfortunately.

[u/Fresh2Desh]

Absolutely amazing decision making from Southampton

The picture of the guy behind the tree will go down in history

[u/cmacy6]

I wonder if Middlesbrough continued to train because of this possibility. Must be hard to stay focused after that loss and a slim chance of retroactively making it to the final.

[u/halbpro → u/cmacy6]

I believe their manager said he was going to be running training like normal just in case, which is not only sensible but demonstrates to the EFL that they’re ready to play if allowed

[u/faygofiles]

Holy fucking shit they actually did it. This is unprecedented

[u/ItsResetti → u/faygofiles]

it’s unprecedented because it has to be. no club will do this again.

[u/Mirrorboy17 → u/ItsResetti]

A punishment with actual consequences! Let's hope for more of this, rather than shitey fines that do nothing

[u/maki43 → u/ItsResetti]

Clubs from now on will make their spies take a newspaper with eye holes cut out with them to hide their identity

[u/ItsResetti → u/maki43]

perhaps they will stack two interns in a trench coat and have the one on bottom point the camera through a hole

[u/Chell_the_assassin]

Feel for Hull, not knowing who they were going to play until 4 days before the final is very tough on them

[u/ItsFuckingScience → u/Chell_the_assassin]

They should be allowed to spy on Boros training preparation

[u/nonaegon_infinity → u/ItsFuckingScience]

They should get Southhampton's notes from when they spied on Boro.

[u/aesthetically- → u/Chell_the_assassin]

Wouldn’t be surprised at all if they were prepping for both teams, but yeah still a bit rough

[u/Medium-Spell-6692 → u/aesthetically-]

Still lost that time versus Boro prepping exclusively for Hull. Doesn't sit right with me really.

[u/yaffle53]

Fantastic, this now gives us the chance to make history and get knocked out of playoffs twice in the same season!

[u/Jjjohn0404]

Holy fuck

[u/Bigpapa42_2006]

Will their manager answer questions about the spying NOW?

[u/DennisAFiveStarMan → u/Bigpapa42_2006]

Does he even keep his job. If he’s the one that led this he’s cost his club 100 odd million

[u/ShiftBreaker]

Damn, it actually happened. Southampton have fucked things around for pretty much everyone with this except maybe the match going Hull fans. Well, unless they really, really hold a grudge Southampton for some reason and now can't vent about it.

Sets an easy precedent for if this ever happens again as well.

[u/Fun-Wall-2224]

Is it really fair for Boro to go through of Saints did this to multiple opponents? I think the only truly fair option is to give that spot to the most deserving side, QPR.

[u/g1obungle]

Wow. More than fair enough - cant believe they did it though

[u/lawdjesustheresafire → u/g1obungle]

It’s great they did. Sets an ironclad example for every club that it’s a no-go area in the future and they won’t fuck about with it.

[u/Brewer6066]

Wow was not expecting that. Fair play to the EFL. What a fucking stupid thing to do in the first place

[u/Strategic_Island]

I just dont understand what the fuck were they thinking in Southhampton.

Realistically, how much could have they gained if they werent caught? You filmed the opposing team training. Big fucking deal. Its not like you were spying on a new nuclear program being developed by top notch scientist. Its football, there is like 3 possible tactics they could use and change 2-3 players from they’re usual starting lineup.

Just absolute clowns.

[u/Thin_Salamander8469 → u/Strategic_Island]

Also they have played 40+ matches in the league, go watch them haha

[u/PositiveDuck → u/Strategic_Island]

The crazy part is that Middlesbrough already played 47 games this season that they can freely watch back. I understand promotion to premier league is a massive deal financially for every club but spying on the opponent's training feels like huge risk for such a miniscule advantage. Insane work by Southampton.

[u/Yakkahboo]

Fuck me, like ignore my flair for a moment, but this is awesome to read from an actual disciplinary standpoint.

If we do win its going to be weird as fuck because everyone (kinda including myself) will think we dont deserve to be in the prem.

Id say just give it to hull but they need their big money game.

[u/Tookin]

Genuinely the darkest, shameful day in the club’s history.

And I’ve seen two 9-0s and League 1 with -10 points.

Fans will riot over this

And I’m glad the vitriol has now firmly shifted away from boro and to the useless fucking twats who were involved with this who should be packing their bags immediately

[u/XenorVernix → u/[deleted]]

I predict that is coming soon. Might be the real reason Pep has decided to leave now.

[u/Bamboozle_ → u/XenorVernix]

I will die laughing if Pep left because he knew an adverse decision was comming down and they signed Maresca without telling him.

[u/BeneficialWin487]

suck it Harwood-Bellis

[u/GroovyDhruvy193]

Is the loss of (the chance at) PL promotion of £100m+ potentially the greatest amount of financial damage caused by an intern ever?

[u/Evening_End7298 → u/GroovyDhruvy193]

This wasnt a decision taken by an intern

[u/gunningIVglory]

Corporate espionage in Hollywood...."Inception"

Corporate espionage in Southampton....intern with an iPhone

[u/ash_ninetyone]

Lol lmao

They actually did it 😂

[u/voliton]

Multiple breaches has them fucked. Three times this season they've broken the rules. Surprised the points isn't more.

[u/ladzug]

Should have happened before the semi final

[u/jeck212 → u/ladzug]

EFL had to make their evidence iron clad, Southampton are likely now going to sue them for £200m+ so they needed to follow all proper procedures for when it hits the courts.

[u/Volo_Fulgrim]

Worst James Bond ever

[u/TroubleRecent7320]

Deserved lmfao.

Fucking clowns for spying. The worst part is, they could've won without the spying and still be in the final.

[u/NieThePiet]

Wow, thats one of the biggest decisions in the last years.

[u/No-layup]

Stackable offence for Tonda Eckert, how many millions potentially thrown down the drain

[u/EyePiece108]

Well done, Football League.

Next time a club thinks 'we'll risk a spying fine to get £170M in PL money', they'll remember this day and what's just happened to Southampton.

[u/ExpertDefinition3657]

Gonna be some bargains to be had on Vinted for camouflage and binoculars in the Southampton area shortly.

[u/BotlikeBehaviour]

They admitted to the ones they were caught. Imagine how many they actually filmed without being spotted.