Football

[D1511]

I'll give Maresca until Christmas at best

 

[Drogba11CFC]

Southampton have been kicked out of the playoffs.

EFL Communications (@EFL_Comms) on X

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. In addition, the Club has received a

x.com

"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. In addition, the Club has received a four-point deduction that will be applied to the 2026/27 Championship table. The effect of today’s order is that Middlesbrough are reinstated into the 2026 Play-Offs and will proceed to the Play-Off Final against Hull City. The final remains scheduled for Saturday 23 May, with the kick-off time to be confirmed."

 

[DarloRich]

Southampton have been kicked out of the playoffs.

EFL Communications (@EFL_Comms) on X

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. In addition, the Club has received a

x.com

Incredible the FL had the stones to do that! Southampton have also received a four-point deduction in the Championship in 2026-27 season. All subject to an appeal tomorrow apparently

 

[D1511]

It's the right decision.

 

[DarloRich]

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

Southampton have admitted to spying on other teams!

Southampton admitted breaches of Regulations requiring Clubs to act with the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another Club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match. The admitted breaches concern fixtures against Oxford United in December 2025, Ipswich Town in April 2026 and Middlesbrough in May 2026.

 

[Haywain]

Southampton have been kicked out of the playoffs.

EFL Communications (@EFL_Comms) on X

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. In addition, the Club has received a

x.com

I'm quite surprised, but with the money at stake I don't think there was a real alternative and this will be a proper deterrent to others.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'm quite surprised, but with the money at stake I don't think there was a real alternative and this will be a proper deterrent to others.

This will annoy those armchair pundits who really hate the top brass in national football bodies and love to decry them for not being strong enough in matters such as this.

 

[The exile]

I'm quite surprised, but with the money at stake I don't think there was a real alternative and this will be a proper deterrent to others.

Indeed - it’s also fortunate that the results of the other two matches concerned were not in the end critical to promotion /relegation positions.

 

[swt_passenger]

… All subject to an appeal tomorrow apparently

So maybe that means a VAR will look at it?

 

[SuspectUsual]

Amazed the EFL found a backbone and did the right thing.

It’ll be interesting to see how Southampton react in terms of the staff involved. My money is on the head coach being chucked under the bus and them claiming it was all his idea and nobody upstairs knew anything about it

 

[Tetchytyke]

The CEO of the Football League used to be CEO at Bradford City back in the day. I genuinely didn’t think he had the gumption to do this.

Let’s see what the Premier League do about C115y. I’m guessing that they will get a slap on the wrist and it’ll be announced the second Arsenal win the league (if they don’t, we’ll be waiting another year!)

 

[Iskra]

I think the 4pts is in there, just so the EFL can return them at appeal to make themselves look like they are being reasonable.

A costly mistake for Southampton, but deserved and fair punishment in my opinion.

Guarantees another Northern club back in the Premier League

 

[D1537]

I'm not a Boro fan but live fairly close to there. None of the Boro fans I know believed the EFL would have the cojones to do this ... might pop down the pub later and see how messy it's getting.

 

[MboroFC]

We didn't think the decision would be this one but Steve Gibson is absolutely relentless with things like this. People thought our club statement was too much last week but going all in has paid dividends.

 

[AlterEgo]

Correct call, not even a Saints fan could argue with that. Blatant cheating.

 

[DarloRich]

We didn't think the decision would be this one but Steve Gibson is absolutely relentless with things like this. People thought our club statement was too much last week but going all in has paid dividends.

you dont mess with Gibbo! Derby found that..................

 

[Edsmith]

Southampton have been kicked out of the playoffs.

EFL Communications (@EFL_Comms) on X

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. In addition, the Club has received a

x.com

Correct decision and Southampton are going to be stigmatised for years.

 

[75A]

As a Pompey fan I think it's a fantastic result, now we're already 4 points ahead of them in the 26/27 season.

 

[D1511]

It's certainly a brave decision by the EFL which suggests to me that they have assembled quite a dossier of spying incidents to be VERY confident about this.
We mustn't forget that this guy was rumbled just after Middlesbrough had been practicing penalties......which could have been critical in the play-off semi-final, so the sanction had to be a sporting one.
With decisions like this, I wish we had the EFL administering the SPFL instead of the Glasgow Football Association........

 

[SuspectUsual]

It's certainly a brave decision by the EFL which suggests to me that they have assembled quite a dossier of spying incidents to be VERY confident about this.

Southampton have admitted to three separate lots of spying, one of them in the first half of the season. It’s a pattern of behaviour not a one off. And if they’ve admitted it, it’s because there’s evidence not because they’ve suddenly decided to come clean

Makes me assume there are 20 championship clubs whose training grounds are totally private

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Southampton have admitted to three separate lots of spying, one of them in the first half of the season. It’s a pattern of behaviour not a one off. And if they’ve admitted it, it’s because there’s evidence not because they’ve suddenly decided to come clean

Yet it has not stopped them now lodging an appeal.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Yet it has not stopped them now lodging an appeal.

(1) they are appealing the sanction not the verdict

(2) if nothing else it’s performative for their fans

 

[Bantamzen]

The CEO of the Football League used to be CEO at Bradford City back in the day. I genuinely didn’t think he had the gumption to do this.

Let’s see what the Premier League do about C115y. I’m guessing that they will get a slap on the wrist and it’ll be announced the second Arsenal win the league (if they don’t, we’ll be waiting another year!)

I don't recall him ever being at Bradford City?

 

[SuspectUsual]

I don't recall him ever being at Bradford City?

If the bloke mentioned is still Trevor Birch he was at Leeds not Bratfud wasn’t he?

 

[Tetchytyke]

I don't recall him ever being at Bradford City?

If the bloke mentioned is still Trevor Birch he was at Leeds not Bratfud wasn’t he?

Was thinking of Shaun Harvey. I’m not paying attention!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 May 2026 ==

I think the 4pts is in there, just so the EFL can return them at appeal to make themselves look like they are being reasonable.

A costly mistake for Southampton, but deserved and fair punishment in my opinion.

Cynical, but probably true!

Seen loads of people saying it didn’t make a difference and Boro shouldn’t whine. Southampton wouldn’t have done it if it didn’t give them an advantage. Good to see the EFL penalise cheating. It’s just a shame they didn’t apply a proper penalty to the cheats at West Brom too.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I see that both Messi and Ronaldo look set to appear in their sixth consecutive World Cup campaigns.

 

[DarloRich]

Yet it has not stopped them now lodging an appeal.

They may as well roll the dice. Nothing to lose except further legal fees

 

[Harvester]

Arsenal are champions, with Man City being held to a draw at Bournemouth.

 

[Forty29]

About time, well done Arsenal!!

 

[Darandio]

Just had to congratulate an Arsenal fan via text. Right thing, but equally one of the worst things i've ever had to do.