coalman

It's a tragedy that they weren't allowed to shoehorn themselves into the hearing in contravention of the regulations. Particularly given the vast amount of experience they have of acting as prosecution, judge and jury in this case already.

LOL https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2026/may/15/club-statement-/ Middlesbrough FC notes the decision of the Disciplinary Commission not to permit the club to intervene in the proceedings brought by the EFL against Southampton FC. The club regrets that outcome, given we are directly affected by the matters under consideration and hold relevant factual evidence as to the events in question and their competitive impact. The conduct at issue, namely the observation and recording of our training session ahead of a fixture of such significance, goes to the heart of sporting integrity and fair competition. In these circumstances, the only appropriate response is a sporting sanction which would prevent Southampton FC from participating in the EFL Championship play-off final. We remain hopeful that the EFL, as regulator, will pursue such a sanction before the Disciplinary Commission in order 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.

Please don't speak ill of the Boro forum. It's my new north star

The Boro forum is a lot like the Daily Mail. You read enough of it and you start believing that's how the world is.

3-0 is the standard score if a game is forfeit as Boro would know after they didn't show up for a game in the EPL.

Yeah. I've never seen a team so desperate to win the game off the football pitch.

The current story doing the rounds on the Boro forum is someone's mate works for a company that sponsors the EFL and the EFL has to let them know what's happening and this guy is privy to all the emails flying around. The EFL have told them if found guilty the only two options are Boro win the tie 3-0 or Saints forfeit the final. Either way we get kicked out. There's meant to be a voice recording of this transcript. The Boro players were told this after the game and Hellberg knew before the game. The Saints players were also told this which is why our dressing room was silent after the game. https://fmttmboro.com/index.php?threads/breaking-news.81160/post-2193812 So it's official we are getting kicked out and it was decided before the second leg. Guess it's time to pack up our bags for the summer holidays.

Surely it depends on what his evidence is. I can see that being the case for witness statements but if he still has emails or anything like that it'd be a different matter.

If they do that then I think a lot of their previous and future judgements are going to be challenged and the EFL as a whole is going to turn into a litigation battlefield. Last thing the EFL wants is for more matches in the future to be fought in the courts rather than on the pitch. It's a veritable Pandora's Box for them whatever they decide. One thing I would expect out of this is they're likely to put some guidance and rules in teams respecting the sanctity of the process and not trying to influence their disciplinary process in the court of public opinion in future.

Unless I've missed something, I haven't seen any other club show interest in getting involved in that so far. A lot of rumours that this club or that club is supporting their case which turn out to be made up. Which indicates to me that other clubs don't see it as an issue or that it's a "there but for the grace of God go I" kind of situation.

Assuming that Hull are going to be pushovers would be foolish. They've beaten us this season and are really good at hitting teams on the break which is our kryptonite. On top of that they've ignored the noise and been completely focused on the final whereas we've been caught up in the media shit storm.

They needed to say that to avoid future litigation from anyone who bought tickets. And "Gibbo" of course as they'll need to show they've taken it seriously if, ahem when he throws his toys out of the pram

It's interesting just how differing the views of the two sets of fans are. Boro fans seem increasingly convinced that the EFL have already decided to kick us out. We're increasingly convinced it's a fine and points deduction.

"Gibbo" needs to get on the phone sharpish and nip this kind of thing in the bud. At this rate he's going to spend so much money currying opinion in the court of public opinion that he's never going to be able to extort it back through litigation.

I feel dirty for saying this because Ayling should've been off on Tuesday. The fact he and THB made up mid game instead of getting added to the post match shit storm speaks well of him. He's one of those players opposition is going to hate whomever he's playing for.

Not just the prosecution. They've also been judge and jury too.

He was employed by us for maybe three months.

Ideal outcome Saints get a fine and 3 points deduction. The panel recommends sanctions for Boro for their attempts to undermine the process.

Obvious Pompey troll is obvious.

There is a general concept in law around whistleblower protection though that's more for people still employed in the role and history shows that people who have relied on that protection have had a bad time. The question would be whether he has the evidence or has said that there is evidence. If he still has evidence is it because we sent it to his personal phone or because he kept confidential information after he left. If it's the former then we're idiots and whoever is running our IT security needs shooting (see all the Tory ministers using WhatsApp during COVID). If the latter then he's unemployable because all future employers will know that he keeps confidential information after he has finished his role.

Same. I think his reaction to whatever Hellberg said on the touchline was pretty telling in terms of whether he has been involved or not.

I love the way Hull are completely focused on beating us on the football pitch. They've conducted themselves perfectly in this situation.

That's more interesting. The EFL could organise this in such a way that we could appeal but we'd wind up being liable for everyone's costs if we lost. For example - we'd have to pick up the bill for lost revenue from the match. By the same token if we took them to court and demonstrated any punishment was completely disproportionate the EFL would have a similar liability plus liability for our losses. Nobody wants to go to court. This whole dance is, in some ways, a piece of performative art around every seeming to get something out of it without anyone having to exercise the nuclear option.

There is no appeal process to the EFL for this. Middlesbrough would have to take it to court if they disagreed that much. As would we.

Nonsense. The only event that may come close is the persecution of a small group in Western Europe last century and, even then, it's a close run thing.