LordHester

That's a relief; for a moment I thought it wasn't a credible source.

And where have you heard this?

Well, it would probably be easier if the EFL just went along with every other league and didn't outlaw it.

And I guess the answer is that apparently nobody knew it was against the rules, or saw fit to point it out.

Limiting the number of analogies would be a bit like ... oh shit, that's aimed at me isn't it?

Yeah, that's the sadness of the situation. Enormous risk with so little to gain.

Rules is rules, innit. You can't complain about them only after you've been caught.

That's a bit like asking why, if shoplifting is illegal, shops put all their stuff out on display and make it easy to steal. It's cos people are expected to act like grown ups and accept that some things are against the rules. In Saints' case, the rules are part and parcel of being in the EFL. Not to say that I don't think the level of punishment is utterly bonkers in context.

No, that's what *you're* saying. I can see that you're confused, but I'm happy to help with your befuddlement.

Don't mention the Bielsa precedent! I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it.

No, because this is the Saints' forum. We'd just be taking the piss out of Pompey.

True but, rightly or wrongly, there is not the time pressure on this decision as there was when the EFL made their judgement.

Fair enough, appreciate you clarifying. For what it's worth, I think that conflates the charge against the club ('we' didn't co-operate) already dealt with by the EFL, with the charge against Tonda by the FA. Hopefully we'll find out one way or another soon enough ...

To be clear, are you saying you think it's not relevant just because there's a new EFL rule? Or is there more to it than that?

As you've said earlier, he'll get punished on the intent, not the benefit. And Bielsa spied systematically on all teams for half a season up to the point where they were caught, as opposed to the three occasions that Tonda has been charged with.

There is? Surprised we haven't heard more about it.

The Bielsa incident is the last time that the FA dealt with a manager who arranged spying on another team. In what way is that not relevant?

He knows it's your opinion, and he's judging you on it. I don't agree with all he said, but if you put your opinion up on a forum, it's fair game, no?

I reckon Ed Sheeran needs to speak out about Saints' treatment. He's been far too quiet.

I'm not sure a defence of being completely incompetent is going to help us here.

Lawrie Mac is a vice-president – hopefully he can put a word in.

With the PL and the EFL having differing rules, we already have inconsistent outcomes for the same 'crime'.

The FA didn't charge Bielsa; and you'd think the club will be drawing attention to that in mitigation of any ban now – nothing has changed in the FA's rules. I'm interested why you think the Canada case is comparable - the charge was brought by a completely different organisation? And wasn't it also in relation to a specific ban against the use of drones?

As I said in the post, the EFL rules have changed, not the FA's. The club have been charged under the EFL's rules; Tonda will be charged under the FA's.