Smoggies staement..........

Statement even!!

To be fair to them, they have a point. Or is it a step to far to kick Southampton out?

It's not a step too far to listen to boro evidence

Were the routines new, etc etc

Middlesbrough have called for Southampton to be expelled from the Championship play-off final over the Spygate saga that has dominated the English football League's end-of season showpiece.

Southampton beat Boro in extra-time in the second leg to reach the Wembley final on Saturday, 23 May against Hull City - but that may have to be rescheduled depending on the outcome of an independent panel's hearing.

Boro will not be permitted to take part in the hearing brought by the EFL over Saints' alleged spying at their Rockliffe Park training ground last Thursday in the build-up to the first leg of the play-off semi-final at the Riverside.

They describe the conduct as going against "sporting integrity and fair competition", external and believe that a sporting sanction is the only fair outcome.

The hearing, conducted by an independent disciplinary committee, will take place on or before Tuesday, 19 May.

But with Middlesbrough not allowed to be present, they are calling on the EFL to expel Southampton from the play-offs in the interests of fairness and to deter clubs from trying anything similar in future.

The statement added: "We remain hopeful that the EFL, as regulator, will pursue such a sanction to protect the integrity of the game, safeguard all member clubs, and deter any attempt in the future to obtain an unfair and unlawful advantage in pursuit of promotion to the Premier League."

EFL rule 127: 'Without prejudice to the requirements of Regulation 3.4 (that each Club shall behave towards each other Club with the utmost good faith), 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 scheduled to be played between those respective Clubs.'

... Seems they want their cake and eat it, if they dont get the result from an INDEPENDENT panel they will also cry off to the EFL.

A few years ago we were fined £200k for spying on Derby County and Bielsa openly admitted that we had spyed on lots of teams that season, there were no rules then of course but I would find it hard to believe that the penalty for spying would now be as harsh as points deductions or a team being kicked out. Surely it will be a fine albeit it quite a large fine.

Neither club will be able to appeal, decision is final.

All it needed at the end of that rule is , 3 points will be deducted if a league game and to be kicked out if play offs . no ambiquity just that is what will happen

Sounds like Middlesbrough are trying to dictate to the EFL, that surely will be frowned upon.

I thought there was no appeal against the appeal, so
sounds like an appeal is possible

Reading Dale Johnson on bbc.

Boro have signed up nick Di Marco, so top guy.

The first hearing needs to take place sooner rather than later, as all parties categorised by the independent disciplinary commission as holding an interest must have the right of appeal

Last one now on bbc ^^^

Just a simple line at the end would end all this , these people are paid millions and cant do a basic thing , also what is the position do southampton get kicked out or do Middlesbrough replace them , the efl will want a final and the money from it so basically they are choosing who plays hull .

Will be a large fine and rule change.

Printing etc for programmes etc already completed,so will not get kicked out.

Premier league have no
interest so no points deduction if they go up.

Shambles of a league imo

EFL have made themselves look bigger mugs than the inept "spy" ever was,  I am guessing the vast majority of Saints fans (myself included) want to see a fair outcome if indeed any offence took place.

If it turns out this "spy" was infact working as a club employee at the time and the club/Manager knew then I for one wouldnt argue the case for expulsion.

* Argue against the case

Any news ?

Fate to be announced tomorrow I think 11kv.

Odds for promotion at the moment:

Saints 1.63
Hull 3.1
Middlesbrough 8.0

soton kicked out

Treegate means Middlesbrough back in the final then

Boro 1.5 lol... Somebody getting out

Odds for promotion at the moment:

Saints 50.0
Hull 2.9
Middlesbrough 1.55

I'm out @1.75

Well well

I suspect you is greening, not desperately redding out
don't forget the appeal

A 4 point deduction at the start of next season as well.

They seem to come up with more outrageous decisions by the day

Not much time for the smogs to buy tickets and a stay over if required; wembley will be carnage

Do away with the Final & let Hull come straight up.

I wonder if somebody tipped off boro, or if they just recognised him
as being employed as a Southampton tactics coach.

Punishment seems a bit harsh to me.

Benefit of cheating was £100m, what punishment would you like

I blame Leeds for getting caught, and causing this

Dirty Leeds

Marching on Together.

What do Roger Moore and Southampton FC have in common? -



























Both Saints and Spies

Dont give up the day job.

I already did,... But point taken.

Could be a can of worms here, will Wrexham claim they should of been in the playoffs due to saints allegedly have done it a few times. Would be quiet ironic after Steve Gibson (Boro chairman) threatened to sue Derby a few years ago saying due to Derby over spending cost Boro a play off place.

Wrexham can take action against Southampton if they want

Wrexham star Josh Windass has hinted that the Championship play-offs should be replayed in their entirety following Southampton's 'spygate' scandal. The Saints were booted from the final against Hull City at Wembley after the EFL confirmed the club admitted "multiple breaches" of unauthorised filming.

Wrec sam causing havoc.

“His (Eckert) attention to detail is unreal,” Downes said.
Saints' head coach Tonda Eckert with Flynn Downes


“Literally every little thing, he just gives you. It makes it so easy. You go out on a Saturday and you know what you’re doing, you know what the other team are doing




And now we know how

Smoggies made a statement yet?