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I'm sick of all this but at least the nervous tension and worry has helped me lose a couple of pounds. I'd look at precedence when it comes to punishment for the alleged offence. That seems to be £200k plus a slap on the wrist for something that was previously admitted over a whole bunch of games. Much more than that for Saints and I'd hope for the entertainment of seeing the EFL dragged through the courts for months. But what the hell do I know? Or anyone else for that matter.

I'm old enough to remember the days when the cup final marked the end of the season. The Beeb kept telling me that it was a great game and that the fans of the same old clubs really did care about it too. Well I suppose they have to try.

Half time during the FA Cup final wouldn't be a bad time to release the verdict.

Get a grip.

You think so? There'd likely not even be an investigation.

Just tuned in to the FA Cup Final on the Beeb. Have they mentioned all the (alleged) cheating by the protagonists yet?

There'll not be a lot of public penalty taking info on most of those taking them in penalty shoot-outs. Makes you wonder where the 'keepers get the info from in that case. 😎

Given the evidence in the 2 matches I'd say they'd have been lying on the ground worn out and puffing. Maybe that's what the "spy" discovered.

Indeed so we've gone full circle. Who's to know that other teams haven't made full use of Boro's public training facility without being so daft as to get caught though? 🤫

What they'd have to do is catch someone from Saints actively viewing it.

Any team training in public has to expect that their activities can be watched and recorded by any member of the public who are not subject to rules pertaining just to that team and its associates. Those members of the public can then do whatever they wish with the information gleaned and these days that involves telling the world. Would it be "cheating" if that team's rivals then had a quick peak at what had been made public?

Are there any other leagues where it is specifically against the rules? Apparently it goes on all the time but the trick is not to get caught, especially against teams that are run by bad losers with a grievance. Maybe if EFL teams were so worried about it they'd stop doing it themselves and maybe invest in a fence.

I'd say they're guilty of breaching that good faith rule myself.

Don't they ever shut up. What a bunch of whinging cry-babies. Get a grip FFS!

Ain't that the truth. The EFL is more in need of sanctions than anyone else.

I think you'll find they most certainly can.

A selection of recommended fence erectors in and around Teesside?

If they've found evidence of systematic rule breaking over a period of time after just a few days then it begs the question of why it hasn't previously come to light. Unless Saints fessed up to the wrongdoing of course but that would be a very stupid thing to do unless a plea deal was in place.

Altering the result of a football match on the basis of perceived breaking of rules either on or off the field would open up a very nasty can of worms for the EFL. They'll have to be very careful how they handle such a serial paranoid millionaire football club owner.

Leeds got fined £200k for repeat offences that happened all season long. Being kicked out of a potential multimillion final at Wembley would be outrageously disproportionate for a lesser offence. M'learned friends would certainly have a pay day.

Maybe the EFL need to get a grip on the fact that making up flimsy rules about what or what isn't allowed is pretty brainless if there's no stipulation of what the penalties might be if anyone were to break them. Carry on along this path and somebody will end up bankrupting the league in a proper court.

The equivalent of a £200m fine on top of a 10 point deduction. It's crazed.

Middlesbrough will for ever be known as a whinging bunch of wet fannies who can't take responsibility for their own shortcomings. First brexit, then Fagash and now this. Pathetic bunch of cry-babies.

It's what I've been waiting for all season. This Independent Hearing is certainly getting the juices of anticipation going. This is where the action is. Will it go to penalties or will it be decided in the time allotted? This is most certainly what football is all about. Fine margins and master tacticians with the result in the balance. Can't wait. Perhaps they should have sold tickets.