Ups & Downs 25/26

[6ft Kerplunk]

I would have thought similar to Leeds it'll be a heavy fine

Purely because they brought in a specific rule after the Leeds incident I expect it to be a lot heavier punishment than that one was.

[katweslowski]

I would have thought similar to Leeds it'll be a heavy fine

Purely because they brought in a specific rule after the Leeds incident I expect it to be a lot heavier punishment than that one was.

The whole thing really annoys me. It's not just rule breaking, it's just so unethical, so unsportsmanlike, lacking in any class or dignity and is just blatant cheating. It's not about the benefits gained by Southampton, it's the act itself.

I personally think if proven, an example should be set and they should not be allowed to continue in the playoffs. It's the EFL competition, their rules, their matches, their processes. If it's shown that Southampton sanctioned this, they were aware and planned this, then block them and give the spot to Middlesbrough

[genome]

Pitch invader slide tackles the Stevenage keeper from behind

https://x.com/The_Forty_Four/status/2054806379861250057

[6ft Kerplunk]

Pitch invader slide tackles the Stevenage keeper from behind

https://x.com/The_Forty_Four/status/2054806379861250057

Football fans are just twats aren't they.

[Sutekh]

Pitch invader slide tackles the Stevenage keeper from behind

https://x.com/The_Forty_Four/status/2054806379861250057

Football fans are just twats aren't they.

Hoping Bolton get through the POs as that at least means we would avoid a 3rd successive 5-2 stuffing at their place.

[Double C]

Pitch invader slide tackles the Stevenage keeper from behind

https://x.com/The_Forty_Four/status/2054806379861250057

Football fans are just twats aren't they.

That is oxf*rd hilarious

Great tackle

[Dirk Gently]

I would have thought similar to Leeds it'll be a heavy fine

Purely because they brought in a specific rule after the Leeds incident I expect it to be a lot heavier punishment than that one was.

The whole thing really annoys me. It's not just rule breaking, it's just so unethical, so unsportsmanlike, lacking in any class or dignity and is just blatant cheating. It's not about the benefits gained by Southampton, it's the act itself.

I personally think if proven, an example should be set and they should not be allowed to continue in the playoffs. It's the EFL competition, their rules, their matches, their processes. If it's shown that Southampton sanctioned this, they were aware and planned this, then block them and give the spot to Middlesbrough

Yep, but they're delaying things as long as they can, asking for extra time, precisely to make the possibility of that happening much less likely.

But such a tawdry club would deserve no less - witness a ball boy blatantly refusing to give the ball to a Middlesbrough player. Not sure what the ref could have done (if anything) - but the idea that it went completely unpunished leaves a nasty taste in the mouth,

[Sutekh]

FL are currently waiting for Southampton to respond to their letter to them over the events. One would expect that letter to demand a response by a certain date or else….

Whatever, if reports are to be believed then Southampton are clearly in breach of FL rules over this sort of thing which state “ no club shall directly or indirectly observe (or attempt to observe) another club's training session in the period of 72 hours prior to any match “.

Leeds were fined £200,000 for their breach. Presuming Southampton fail to satisfy the FL over the events then I’d presume they’d be looking at a fine and probably considerably more if they beat Hull. Personally, if found guilty, I’d declare their win over ‘boro void and award the “tie” to the Teesiders. In any case this needs to be resolved by the end of this week.

[South Coast Royal]

FL are currently waiting for Southampton to respond to their letter to them over the events. One would expect that letter to demand a response by a certain date or else….

Whatever, if reports are to be believed then Southampton are clearly in breach of FL rules over this sort of thing which state “ no club shall directly or indirectly observe (or attempt to observe) another club's training session in the period of 72 hours prior to any match “.

Leeds were fined £200,000 for their breach. Presuming Southampton fail to satisfy the FL over the events then I’d presume they’d be looking at a fine and probably considerably more if they beat Hull. Personally, if found guilty, I’d declare their win over ‘boro void and award the “tie” to the Teesiders. In any case this needs to be resolved by the end of this week.

Apparently the 'Boro players have reported back to training just in case and the implication is that other members of the Saints staff were complicit and it wasn't the first time.
Saints also withdrew from selling tickets for the final.

It is probably too near to the set-in-stone date for the final so ,rather than a re-match, I expect Saints to be hit with a big fine.

[katweslowski]

FL are currently waiting for Southampton to respond to their letter to them over the events. One would expect that letter to demand a response by a certain date or else….

Whatever, if reports are to be believed then Southampton are clearly in breach of FL rules over this sort of thing which state “ no club shall directly or indirectly observe (or attempt to observe) another club's training session in the period of 72 hours prior to any match “.

Leeds were fined £200,000 for their breach. Presuming Southampton fail to satisfy the FL over the events then I’d presume they’d be looking at a fine and probably considerably more if they beat Hull. Personally, if found guilty, I’d declare their win over ‘boro void and award the “tie” to the Teesiders. In any case this needs to be resolved by the end of this week.

Apparently the 'Boro players have reported back to training just in case and the implication is that other members of the Saints staff were complicit and it wasn't the first time.
Saints also withdrew from selling tickets for the final.

It is probably too near to the set-in-stone date for the final so ,rather than a re-match, I expect Saints to be hit with a big fine.

Agree with both - I would like to see them disqualified personally but believe it'll be a large fine which is pretty pointless - particularly if they won and get £100m or whatever the financial benefits are these days.

Even if they lost the final, a fine of say £1m is hardly ground breaking and I don't think it would put off any other club doing the same in the future

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Can't see them being booted. If the EFL tried, Saints would immediately sue in court and that could seriously fukk the end of the season

[WestYorksRoyal]

Can't see them being booted. If the EFL tried, Saints would immediately sue in court and that could seriously fukk the end of the season

But if they're not, Middlesbrough will do the same, or just as likely sue Southampton for all the PL revenue they've "stolen". Their Chairman has form.

It's a horribly messy situation where every option is a terrible option. As the mess is of Southampton's making, they should probably be the ones to have the book thrown at them.

[Dirk Gently]

EFL Statement issued yesterday:

The EFL can today provide an interim update on the ongoing disciplinary proceedings involving Southampton following Tuesday’s Championship Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg.

The Independent Disciplinary Commission hearing will take place on or before Tuesday, 19 May.

The exact date remains under discussion and is expected to be confirmed shortly.

The Commission will issue its decision as soon as possible following consideration of the relevant submissions and evidence.

As the proceedings are being conducted by an Independent Disciplinary Commission, the EFL does not control the proposed timetable.

Notwithstanding this, the EFL continues to plan on the basis that the Championship Play-Off Final will take place as scheduled on Saturday 23 May, with the kick-off time confirmed as 4.30pm.

Supporters should, however, be aware that the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture.

The EFL has a number of contingency plans should they be required, which also includes consideration of any appeal process, if required.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Looking forward to Southampton and Middlesbrough sharing a dressing room at Wembley with the EFL making a final decision after all the appeals 5min before kickoff. Might get a bit tense on Wembley Way as the fans wait to find out which set of supporters are allowed in.

[Winston Biscuit]

won't anyone think of the Middlesbrough players wives who are desperate to start their holidays but their husbands are having to keep going to training with no match lined up!

[Royal Rother]

Can't see them being booted. If the EFL tried, Saints would immediately sue in court and that could seriously fukk the end of the season

FWIW - EFL rules do not permit cases to be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

[Winston Biscuit]

football finance/rules matey on talksport yesterday poo poo'd the idea of Southampton paying off Middlesbrough to get this out the way, as he made the point that this is not an arbitration issue between Middlesbrough and Southampton, its a disciplinary issue between Southampton and the EFL

[Beaulux]

I’m all for fining Saints, dems the rules.

But any sporting penalty would be totally OTT.

[WestYorksRoyal]

football finance/rules matey on talksport yesterday poo poo'd the idea of Southampton paying off Middlesbrough to get this out the way, as he made the point that this is not an arbitration issue between Middlesbrough and Southampton, its a disciplinary issue between Southampton and the EFL

I'm not sure. There are plenty of precedents for clubs suing each other. Sheffield United and West Ham over Tevez, Middlesbrough and Derby over FFP breaches.

The disciplinary is between the EFL and Southampton. If the conclusion is a fine and suspended points deduction, that will pale in insignificance of the potential riches of promotion which they are now only 1 game away from. Southampton will be big favourites, as would have been Middlesbrough.

So they would be able to argue, with good reason, that Southampton broke the rules and gained an unfair sporting advantage that has cost Middlesbrough a lot of money financially. Sounds like enough to at least get a decent out of court settlement. Southampton may need to hold back some of their promotion riches in reserve, which then affects recruitment and kills their survival chances before they've even started.

[Sutekh]

I’m all for fining Saints, dems the rules.

But any sporting penalty would be totally OTT.

Sporting penalties are the only punishments that mean anything, given the size of any fines dished out are pointless because they’re barely the cost a club would pay for a 3rd or 4th division reserve player.