If a team is found to be guilty of cheating they should be expelled from the competition

Can’t say I’m too sympathetic for the fans either. The number who took binoculars and ghillie suits to the Boro game. As for Harwood-Bellis, think he’s probably regretting his celebration

It’s dreadful for the fans and the club should reimburse everyone. I suspect they won’t, beyond the tickets.

I’m talking about the Southampton FC spy being sent to a rival team 2 days before a knock out match.

they probably would have won the game without these tactics as their rivals weren’t good enough.

I feel they should not play in the final as it will ge a deterrent against cheating in the future, it’s sets ab example at all levels of football.

Umm....

Whoops.

You’re not wrong, but it won’t happen. The main values / behaviours of the EFL are cowardice and corruption.

I thought they were going to dock Soton a few points (up to 6-7ish, which means the top six wouldn’t have included other teams), and either apply it from August if they fail to win promotion, or recommend the Premier League apply it if they do win promotion - and then of course the PL wouldn’t apply it and say it’s nothing to do with them, and thus there would be a ‘punishment’, but life would keep moving on.

But I hear the manager is going to take the fall instead, and get a long term ban. I guess if he was the one who set this up then the owners have pushed him to fall on his sword and sacrifice himself so the club and fans don’t get punished. And the EFL would probably love this as they’d feel like there has been sufficient punishment without them having to make a bold decision.

Problem is…. it’s a solution that gives no redress for Boro (or indeed, any other teams Soton might have done this too….).

Boro should take it into civil court and get a big pay-out from Soton. There’s precedent for that so I can’t see it being a problem. Expect Soton to take a number of years to pay it though…..

(And we’ll all skirt over the fact that the club escaped proper punishment…..)

I'm a Southampton fan. I had a ticket and train booked for the final.

37,000 tickets had been sold by our fan base. We sold out.

I am furious at the powers that be at the club leaving so many families, children in this position. A dream day out ripped away from thousands of children because they knowingly broke the rules.

I am angry and feel betrayed. So much wasted effort; financial and emotion. We are apparently appealling the decision. Feels distasteful.

So, are Boro fans now buying tickets and making plans for Saturday? Or holding off until after Wednesday and Soton’s appeal….?

I'm a Southampton fan. I had a ticket and train booked for the final.

37,000 tickets had been sold by our fan base. We sold out.

I am furious at the powers that be at the club leaving so many families, children in this position. A dream day out ripped away from thousands of children because they knowingly broke the rules.

I am angry and feel betrayed. So much wasted effort; financial and emotion. We are apparently appealling the decision. Feels distasteful.

You’re not wrong, but it won’t happen. The main values / behaviours of the EFL are cowardice and corruption.

I thought they were going to dock Soton a few points (up to 6-7ish, which means the top six wouldn’t have included other teams), and either apply it from August if they fail to win promotion, or recommend the Premier League apply it if they do win promotion - and then of course the PL wouldn’t apply it and say it’s nothing to do with them, and thus there would be a ‘punishment’, but life would keep moving on.

But I hear the manager is going to take the fall instead, and get a long term ban. I guess if he was the one who set this up then the owners have pushed him to fall on his sword and sacrifice himself so the club and fans don’t get punished. And the EFL would probably love this as they’d feel like there has been sufficient punishment without them having to make a bold decision.

Problem is…. it’s a solution that gives no redress for Boro (or indeed, any other teams Soton might have done this too….).

Boro should take it into civil court and get a big pay-out from Soton. There’s precedent for that so I can’t see it being a problem. Expect Soton to take a number of years to pay it though…..

(And we’ll all skirt over the fact that the club escaped proper punishment…..)

I am shocked but pleased!

I’m from Middlesbrough so it’s all anyone has been talking about for the last few days.

That didn't age well 😂

You’re not wrong, but it won’t happen. The main values / behaviours of the EFL are cowardice and corruption.

I thought they were going to dock Soton a few points (up to 6-7ish, which means the top six wouldn’t have included other teams), and either apply it from August if they fail to win promotion, or recommend the Premier League apply it if they do win promotion - and then of course the PL wouldn’t apply it and say it’s nothing to do with them, and thus there would be a ‘punishment’, but life would keep moving on.

But I hear the manager is going to take the fall instead, and get a long term ban. I guess if he was the one who set this up then the owners have pushed him to fall on his sword and sacrifice himself so the club and fans don’t get punished. And the EFL would probably love this as they’d feel like there has been sufficient punishment without them having to make a bold decision.

Problem is…. it’s a solution that gives no redress for Boro (or indeed, any other teams Soton might have done this too….).

Boro should take it into civil court and get a big pay-out from Soton. There’s precedent for that so I can’t see it being a problem. Expect Soton to take a number of years to pay it though…..

(And we’ll all skirt over the fact that the club escaped proper punishment…..)