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

[WorldCup2026]

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.

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…..)

This is the only topic of conversation at work right now!!!

Opinions are mixed. Apparently its not the first time suspicions gave been had about them spying - just the first time they were caught.

That said, the timings are crap. Personally, I think the playoff shouldn't have been held. It should have been Boro and Wrexham. But things moved too slowly.

Who knows who would have won without the spying (probably the Saints!).

Whatever happens now, Southampton, Middlesbrough or Wrexham will feel hard down by.

There is a precedent. Swindon. Illegal payments in 1990. They won the playoffs but were denied promotion.

But of course that won't help Middlesbrough as it will be Hull promoted instead

Oh my god, it’s happened!!! They actually chucked them out

Has happened. Just been on the news.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cwy2pnpqjl7o
Southampton expelled from play-offs for spying on Middlesbrough

Yes, I just posted that!

Wow. Can’t believe the EFL has been so bold. Great decision.

And a 4 point deduction. I think there must have been convincing evidence from the other two clubs as well.

Wow, that's a very bold move. The right one though.

Southampton have already launched an appeal, so who knows which way it will go tomorrow.
Whatever the outcome I feel real sympathy for the genuine Saints supporters who will be devastated.

And yet, despite the investigation ending in 2024, there is still no decision on the 100 + allegations against Man City.

I think the Southampton decision is right, but it couldn't be, could it? That the powers that be are too too frightened to censure a team, in case the Teams benefactor takes away it's money from the league?

There never will be for City. We all know it.

Saints are lower tier so can be punished. Rightly so, but so should City be.

I think kicking them out is the right decision and I hope it’s not turned over on appeal tomorrow.

Promotion would hand them around £200 million so a fine is pretty meaningless. The penalty has to be harsh to stop this happening. Clubs might well feel a fine and points deduction would be worth the risk - getting kicked out would be a good deterrent so it’s really the only option.

Gutted for Southampton fans but they should be turning their anger at their club. I’ve seen lots of them angry with Boro but I think that’s unfair. Southampton have admitted to multiple incidences of spying and I bet there’s more. The club have really let their fans down.

That didn't age well 😂

To be fair, I’m very glad it did happen! Just never thought they’d have the balls. It’s absolutely the right decision.

I am shocked but pleased!

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

Wonder how Taylor Harwood Bellis feels? The Southampton player who mocked Boro's Luke Ayling for his speech impediment during the second leg (was in referee's report, but Ayling said he didn't want it taking any further despite having been extremely annoyed at the time), and who was making mocking binocular gestures at one of the other Boro players later. What goes around comes around.

I am shocked I didn’t think it would happen!

right decision

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

Whoops.

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.

I feel sorry for Hull. None of this is their fault and how are they supposed to prepare properly when they aren't even sure who they'll be playing?

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

Southampton are appealing the decision tomorrow.

It's shit for their fans who bought tickets and hotel rooms for the final. It's shit for Hull who have been training to play one team and now getting another.

However I think it's great for the game. Sticking to the rules and showing backbone.

I only hope the Premier league will do the same for Man City and their 115 charges

Not sure, haven’t spoken to anyone who plans to get a ticket yet. It’s all very short notice