sadoldgit

This is the issue. The EFL have not set out the penalty if found guilty of this crime, just a range of sanctions that can be used. A panel then has to decide subjectively what punishment they think is suitable. We don’t think that our crimes warrant expulsion. Middlesbrough do. We all have our own thoughts. How do you decide what is a fair, reasonable and proportionate penalty? Whether we think the club have been doing it all season (how did that work out for Will Still?) is neither here nor there. We were charge with 3 breaches of the law. Just 3, across a whole season. I just don’t know how anyone can think this punishment is fair, reasonable and proportionate (apart from Gibbo and the Boro fans of course).

Which makes the whole thing a farce.

God knows. It does not alter what actually happened though. People do things all the time that have no material effect on an outcome.

So we had less time to prepare for them in the hearing?

I saw the match in which we were totally battered for a great deal of it. What difference does someone make standing around a quarter of a mile away with an iPhone? Even pros are saying it would have made any difference. If it was a big deal don’t you think that the EPL would have the same rule?

We have admitted to breaking the rules. 14 days makes no difference to our defence. The only thing we can go back with it the harsh penalty.

Because they lost over two games and the cheating had no material effect to the result. It is ridiculous that you can lose but still win. The only reason they lost is down to their shortcomings on the pitch.

Hmmm, I thought that there was no chance that we would be kicked out, so who knows what will happen next?

Exactly. The problem the EFL now have that this sanction is a precedent, if upheld. All wrong doing will use this as an example of not acting in good faith and the expectation will be that any clubs breaking rules could be subject to “nuclear” sanctions.

Who would have thought that a bloke with an iPhone and a dodgy pair of jeans a good quarter of a mile away from a bunch of footballers could cause so much grief?

Me neither, but Gibson managed to make it all about ethics and turned it into a big deal. The ironic thing is the word “ethics” has no place in modern professional football.

I would to, especially if he wasn’t aware that it was illegal (which begs the question why not). He is clearly a very good coach which begs another question, why do this when you have hours of videos available to look at the check out the opposition. Sadly I think his position is untenable though. He would get a good job abroad where they will all be amazed at what a storm a bit of scouting on the opposition has caused.

I’m guessing it is the 14 day thing which is just procedural and, although important, doesn’t exonerate us from breaking the EFL rules. At most I think it would just give us a stay of execution. I think we will get the 4 points back on appeal but other than that, we are cooked. How galling is it that Middlesbrough get beaten properly on the pitch over two games though and still get a chance to win promotion? What a joke the EFL is.

Which is absolutely fine if it applies to every club, including the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea.

If it is true that everybody is doing it and we know for a fact that it isn’t even an issue in the EPL, isn’t that a bit extreme? Our crime seems to be naivety.