Saints Charged With Spying on Mboro Training

[badgerx16]

2 minutes ago, bolo said:

 . Talk of being thrown out of the play offs is mental ,.......

 

It will not, cannot, happen. Such talk is pure delusion.

The "process" allows for 14 days for Saints to respond before a hearing is convened, so logically any such hearing cannot take place until after the final. If we lose tonight this becones moot, and we simply wait for a fine/points deduction. If we win tonight and lose the final then it is similarly moot, they can't then rerun the final with Boro. If we win the final what do they do ? Promote Hull against Boro's protests, or again, rerun the final with Boro ?

[Dman]

6 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Im sure Chinese whispers but belief seems to be coming from someone at Middlesbrough being told by EFL that expulsion is very much an option on the table , hence the need to stay prepared 

Soviet levels of propaganda 

If any of that is true then efl must be desperate for us to lose tonight 

Probably their board memeber, who is also part of the EFL board. 

Expulsion will lead to a legal battle that the EFL wont be prepared for (not just from us, but from wrexham as well i expect). 

Edited 10 hours ago by Dman

[beatlesaint]

The weird thing with the Boro fans and in particular North East journalists is that if it’s true that Saints accept the charge and it turns out it was an inexperienced trainee analyst working alone they totally refuse to believe or accept it because it doesn’t fit their narrative.

They are only interested in one thing, and it isn’t justice, it’s a guarantee that they will be in the final come 23 May. Now if they go through tonight you can guarantee most of this hysteria will calm down or go away but if they don’t they will ramp up even more.

They have no interest in the fact that this has nothing to do with the players or the fans, they just want their pound of flesh and screw the innocent parties. 
 

[Football Special]

2 minutes ago, Dman said:

Yep. I saw a handful of them online yesterday trying to convince themselves that if we go on to win the play-offs, we have commited fraud. 

Some of them seriously need this to be over to go back to their normal lives.

General thought process seems to be 

A) Boro win. Pressure off EFL. Punishment given without much attention 

B) Saints win, Boro continue to train for the final and apply as much public pressure as possible to have us kicked out 

[badgerx16]

Just now, Football Special said:

Some of them seriously need this to be over to go back to their normal lives.

 

Imagine all this dying down and having to get back to the reality of living in Middlesborough.

[Dman]

1 minute ago, Football Special said:

Some of them seriously need this to be over to go back to their normal lives.

General thought process seems to be 

A) Boro win. Pressure off EFL. Punishment given without much attention 

B) Saints win, Boro continue to train for the final and apply as much public pressure as possible to have us kicked out 

Outside of jurnos in the north east & their werid club, noone seems to really care. Its seen as a bit of a joke. 

You'd have thought the Skate would have been all over it, but even they don't seem to be making much noise about it. 

[Toadhall Saint]

5 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

It will not, cannot, happen. Such talk is pure delusion.

The "process" allows for 14 days for Saints to respond before a hearing is convened, so logically any such hearing cannot take place until after the final. If we lose tonight this becones moot, and we simply wait for a fine/points deduction. If we win tonight and lose the final then it is similarly moot, they can't then rerun the final with Boro. If we win the final what do they do ? Promote Hull against Boro's protests, or again, rerun the final with Boro ?

https://www.efl.com/news/2026/may/08/efl-/
 

the 14 day thing has been brought forward according to the statement from the efl.

[skintsaint]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/16/marcelo-bielsa-leeds-spied-every-opponent

Reading about Leeds charge, they admitted to it for half a season, and the expected outcome of this investigation sounds a bit familiar to what's happening now.

[Miltonaggro]

6 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

The weird thing with the Boro fans and in particular North East journalists is that if it’s true that Saints accept the charge and it turns out it was an inexperienced trainee analyst working alone they totally refuse to believe or accept it because it doesn’t fit their narrative.

They are only interested in one thing, and it isn’t justice, it’s a guarantee that they will be in the final come 23 May. Now if they go through tonight you can guarantee most of this hysteria will calm down or go away but if they don’t they will ramp up even more.

They have no interest in the fact that this has nothing to do with the players or the fans, they just want their pound of flesh and screw the innocent parties. 
 

What they have been doing over the past week is attempting to cheat and gain unfair advantage, perhaps Saints can suggest this to the EFL.

[Farmer Saint]

42 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

There was an existing rule that Leeds breached. Which we are accused of breaking as well as the new anti spying rule.

No, there was no existing rule.

[Toadhall Saint]

Just now, Miltonaggro said:

What they have been doing over the past week is attempting to cheat and gain unfair advantage, perhaps Saints can suggest this to the EFL.

They certainly haven’t been following due process. The efl have made a statement saying no further comment SFC have done the same. Boro - have tried and are trying to influence that process when they should just be waiting for the process to conclude before commenting more.

[skintsaint]

Pretty sure these are the people dealing with the issue :

https://www.sportresolutions.com/

[trousers]

7 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Some of them seriously need this to be over to go back to their normal lives.

General thought process seems to be 

A) Boro win. Pressure off EFL. Punishment given without much attention 

B) Saints win, Boro continue to train for the final and apply as much public pressure as possible to have us kicked out 

Surely, attempting to influence the outcome of an independent investigation is also in breach of EFL Regulation 3.4 ... "Clubs to act towards each other with the utmost good faith ...?

[Toadhall Saint]

2 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

No, there was no existing rule.

Leeds breached regulation 3.4 we have been charged with doing the same. Plus breaching the new regulation 127.

[Miltonaggro]

Also, lots of hilarity from the Boro brain damage about Gibbo, the £600m man of the people, not letting this lie and being able to afford the best legal representation.  This, whilst not realising that our Serbian Chairman is worth £1.5 billion.  I think that they are going to be disappointed. 

[trousers]

3 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

No, there was no existing rule.

There was, of sorts... They were found guilty of breaching rule / regulation 3.4... 

[trousers]

1 minute ago, Miltonaggro said:

Also, lots of hilarity from the Boro brain damage about Gibbo, the £600m man of the people, not letting this lie and being able to afford the best legal representation.  This, whilst not realising that our Serbian Chairman is worth £1.5 billion.  I think that they are going to be disappointed. 

Is Dragan still worth that, given he was ousted last year from the company upon which his wealth was founded? 

[Toussaint]

5 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

What they have been doing over the past week is attempting to cheat and gain unfair advantage, perhaps Saints can suggest this to the EFL.

That’s it in a nutshell, I’m surprised more people aren’t onto it. Our “spying” was for minimal gain, they are trying to destabilise us, get entry to a playoff final by any means and potentially the premier league. 

[trousers]

Just now, Toussaint said:

That’s it in a nutshell, I’m surprised more people aren’t onto it. Our “spying” was for minimal gain, they are trying to destabilise us, get entry to a playoff final by any means and potentially the premier league. 

How about we take a lead from the Boro Babies and start spitting out our dummies and throwing our toys out of our prams in protest...? 

[Lord Duckhunter]

16 minutes ago, Dman said:

Expulsion will lead to a legal battle that the EFL wont be prepared for (not just from us, but from wrexham as well i expect). 

Why Wrexham? 
 

Unless they can prove we’ve been doing it during the main season, it’s got fuck all to do with them. 

[Dman]

1 minute ago, Toussaint said:

That’s it in a nutshell, I’m surprised more people aren’t onto it. Our “spying” was for minimal gain, they are trying to destabilise us, get entry to a playoff final by any means and potentially the premier league. 

I'd be amazed if the club haven't privately noted that. 

Its very much towing the legal line atm of no comment. When all is said and done, I'd imagine we will have our say - if we haven't already in private. 

It was notable how that werid sweedish fella changed his tune somewhat in the press before this game. 

[Dman]

Just now, Lord Duckhunter said:

Why Wrexham? 
 

Unless they can prove we’ve been doing it during the main season, it’s got fuck all to do with them. 

I think there is an arguement that if we get kicked out, they should have been entiltled to a crack. 

[Toussaint]

Just now, trousers said:

How about we take a lead from the Boro Babies and start spitting out our dummies and throwing our toys out of our prams in protest...? 

Why not, play stupid games win stupid prizes. Although we’d be better doing what we are planning to do, beat them fairly tonight, beat Hull in the final and qualify for the champions league next season. 

[Midfield_General]

41 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Im sure Chinese whispers but belief seems to be coming from someone at Middlesbrough being told by EFL that expulsion is very much an option on the table , hence the need to stay prepared 

Soviet levels of propaganda 

If any of that is true then efl must be desperate for us to lose tonight 

It's total Chinese whispers. 

Their local rag has led this morning with the headline 'Southampton face Championship play-off expulsion': 

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/boro-southampton-spygate-play-offs-33929204

But when your read that article they have none of their own reporting in there, they are just re-hashing a story from the Daily Mail, which they link to, and which is the one from yesterday that someone posted upthread:

https://www.dailymail.com/sport/football/article-15808703/The-key-evidence-sink-Southampton-Spygate-scandal-punishment-face-guilty-analyst-caught-watching-Middlesbrough-training-session-bushes.html

And when you actually read that article, it's is full of the weasel words that the Mail is so fond of to create headlines that stir people up and get clicks, but on closer examination are purely their own conjecture with no evidence, sources or quotes whatsoever. 'Could', 'it is within their power to', 'Middlesbrough are pushing for', 'it is understood' etc. 

To give an analogy: I could write the headline 'MIDFIELD_GENERAL MAY SECRETLY WED SYDNEY SWEENEY TOMORROW' and because it's technically a thing that could happen, however unlikely, it wouldn't be factually inaccurate but there also isn't a shred of evidence that it will. 

Then you have the usual freaks and weirdos on social media pretending to be ITK and amplifying it with 'this is what i've heard' for attention and clicks on platforms where you can say literally anything with no evidence and some people will believe and share it, especially if it's something they're desperate to believe could be true. God knows we've seen enough of that on here over the years. 

Expulsion is one of the options available - that's the only fact they're amplifying because it gets clicks. That doesn't mean it is in any way proportionate to the crime or is in any way likely to happen. It's just the press and a load of simpletons online whipping each other into a frenzy. 

 

Edited 9 hours ago by Midfield_General

[trousers]

1 minute ago, Midfield_General said:

MIDFIELD_GENERAL MAY SECRETLY WED SYDNEY SWEENEY TOMORROW

Congratulations sir! Do we get an invite?

[RedArmy]

If you think it couldn’t get any more deranged in the north east. 
 

They have a thread on their forum this morning asking what are the chances of us being disqualified from the prem if we win the playoffs. 
 

[kwsaint]

I can’t see how there would be time to fit in any more games before the World Cup starts. You couldn’t get another date at Wembley to play the final. If we were going to get kicked out of the play offs, it would have happened before the first leg imo and Boro would have got a bye.

[kwsaint]

1 minute ago, RedArmy said:

If you think it couldn’t get any more deranged in the north east. 
 

They have a thread on their forum this morning asking what are the chances of us being disqualified from the prem if we win the playoffs. 
 

Have they considered beating us today might be there best bet? They seem to have completely forgot about the game.

[badgerx16]

16 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

https://www.efl.com/news/2026/may/08/efl-/
 

the 14 day thing has been brought forward according to the statement from the efl.

Even if that is so, the arguments against expulsion still apply. Would we have a right to appeal any judgement, as that would push things back.

From the EFL's perspective the best outcome is a Boro win tonight.

[Midfield_General]

3 minutes ago, trousers said:

Congratulations sir! Do we get an invite?

When we go back for the wedding night I was rather hoping you'd hide in the bushes and film it

[Thripp87]

Absolute drivel this. I thought our Northern friends were meant to be big and tough compared to us Southern softies? No hope in hell of us being removed out of the play offs, I could think of 100 reasons logistically why that’s not going to happen, let alone the legal rights of appeal we would have for losing an opportunity to gain an extra £200m in revenue. If I was a Boro fan I would actually be quite pissed off about this if we lose we are not out narrative, it must be very distracting.

That said, one small concern I do have is the EFL will want us out tonight to make this issue disappear. I could see a silly 50/50 going their way if it’s 0-0 with ten mins to go.

Lets get an early goal, 2-0 at half time and then take the piss with were in your hedge songs for the last 10 mins.

Edited 9 hours ago by Thripp87

[beatlesaint]

12 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Why Wrexham? 
 

Unless they can prove we’ve been doing it during the main season, it’s got fuck all to do with them. 

Pretty silly question tbh LD.

If Southampton are kicked out, and given this offence was known before a ball was kicked in the first leg, they could reasonably argue that as 7th placed team they would take Saints place in the semi finals.

I’m not saying that’s right or wrong but it’s a free hit for them and they’d be bloody stupid not to get their legal people lodging that with the EFL.

[Midfield_General]

Let's look at another incident. In 2007, West Ham were threatened with relegation and signed two of the best players in the world (Tevez and Mascherano), who subsequently played a huge part in keeping them in the Premier League. Tevez alone scored six goals in their last nine games to keep them up. 

It then transpired that their registrations were illegal, that West Ham had known they were illegal, and that they had knowingly fielded not one but two illegal players for a large part of the season, and those players had helped keep them up and relegate other teams instead.

Different league but a way more heinous crime with a much more significant impact. They got a fine. 

No-one is chucking anyone out of any competitions when promotion and relegation is impacted by it. It means too many other clubs get involved and that's just too much of a legal and financial can of worms for the league and the governing body to want to deal with. 

As someone said above, they'll wait to see if we get knocked out anyway, and then if we don't, they'll give us a whopping fine and maybe a points deduction (potentially suspended) and that will be it. Regardless of whatever shite some kids pretending to be ITK might be saying on X.

Edited 6 hours ago by Midfield_General

[Miltonaggro]

16 minutes ago, trousers said:

Is Dragan still worth that, given he was ousted last year from the company upon which his wealth was founded? 

Who knows?  I think his peak was close to £2bn, but I'd wager he is still worth two Gibbos.

[saintant]

58 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Middlesbrough and their various PR outlets have been relentless, even this morning they're reminding everyone they'll keep squad together even if they lose so they're fully prepared for the final should we subsequently be expelled 

Presumably, if we beat them tonight their fans in the ground will all be happy, clapping, smiling and cheering their little heads off.

[LeBizzier69]

As this isn’t a police investigation, or anywhere sodding near it, they surely can’t get hold of any texts / emails etc by force?

How on earth would you even prove spying was done elsewhere anyway?

Even if the same bloke is seen on cctv, that in itself doesn’t prove anything.

just listening to the news this morning is winding me up already. Might need to bring the first beer forward about 8 hours..

[Dman]

3 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Pretty silly question tbh LD.

If Southampton are kicked out, and given this offence was known before a ball was kicked in the first leg, they could reasonably argue that as 7th placed team they would take Saints place in the semi finals.

I’m not saying that’s right or wrong but it’s a free hit for them and they’d be bloody stupid not to get their legal people lodging that with the EFL.

Exactly how I see it. All talk of us being booted is so that it benefits Boro more so than a punishment to us. 

[Midfield_General]

3 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

Who knows?  I think his peak was close to £2bn, but I'd wager he is still worth two Gibbos.

I believe when today's exchange rate is applied, you actually get four Gibbos to the Drag these days. 

Inflation eh

[badgerx16]

2 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Pretty silly question tbh LD.

If Southampton are kicked out, and given this offence was known before a ball was kicked in the first leg, they could reasonably argue that as 7th placed team they would take Saints place in the semi finals.

I’m not saying that’s right or wrong but it’s a free hit for them and they’d be bloody stupid not to get their legal people lodging that with the EFL.

But our expulsion at that point would have promoted Boro, Hull, and Wrexham by one place each, so Hull would have been playing Boro, and Wrexham playing Millwall. 

[Sheaf Saint]

1 minute ago, Midfield_General said:

I believe when today's exchange rate is applied, you actually get four Gibbos to the Drag these days. 

Inflation eh

How many Shlongs is that?

[Miltonaggro]

2 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

I believe when today's exchange rate is applied, you actually get four Gibbos to the Drag these days. 

Inflation eh

Gibbos are highly volatile and easy to devalue.  Mark Bitcoin has confirmed this

[trousers]

SAINTS CEO Phil Parsons has said the club are conducting an internal review in a new statement addressing the EFL charge for alleged spying.

Saints have been referred to a disciplinary commission by the EFL following a complaint of unauthorised filming at Middlesbrough's training ground.

An initial three-line Saints statement acknowledged the charges and vowed to "fully cooperate", but said they could make no further comment.

They are not expected to contest the charge for the incident, which took place on Thursday, two days before the Championship play-off semi-final.

While Boro are pushing for the harshest possible sanctions, including play-off expulsion, Saints will attempt to mitigate the circumstances of the breaches.

In a new statement, Parsons said: "We would like to provide a brief update regarding the incident reported at Middlesbrough last week.

"The club is fully cooperating with the EFL and the Disciplinary Commission, whilst also undertaking an internal review to ensure that all facts and context are properly understood.

"Given the intensity of the fixture schedule and the short turnaround between matches, we have requested time to complete that process thoroughly and responsibly.

"We understand the discussion and speculation that has followed over recent days, but we also believe it is important that the full context is established before conclusions are drawn.

"Having spent a significant amount of time around this football club, I know the character of the people within it.

"The togetherness shown by players, staff and supporters throughout this season has been a huge part of the progress we have made, and I am confident that spirit will remain unchanged.

"This season has represented another important step forward for the football club.

"While we know there is still more work ahead of us, and we are not yet where we ultimately want to be, the unity shown during challenging moments has continued to define Southampton Football Club.

"The support from our fans throughout the season has once again been exceptional, and everyone connected with the club remains fully committed to building long-term success in the right way.

"Dragan Solak continues to support the club financially, and we remain proud to have stayed competitive while operating within financial regulations, something that is important for the long-term stability of the club.

"Our focus now turns fully to this evening’s game. This is the time for all of us to get behind the team and create another special atmosphere at St Mary’s."

 

Edited 9 hours ago by trousers

[Dman]

2 minutes ago, LeBizzier69 said:

As this isn’t a police investigation, or anywhere sodding near it, they surely can’t get hold of any texts / emails etc by force?

How on earth would you even prove spying was done elsewhere anyway?

Even if the same bloke is seen on cctv, that in itself doesn’t prove anything.

just listening to the news this morning is winding me up already. Might need to bring the first beer forward about 8 hours..

Exactly. 

EFL: "We want to see your (who are they defining as your in this case) text messages, emails and bankstatements" 

Saints: "we had no idea about it. What do you specifically want to see? Here are all of our emails to said person(s) between x dates" whilst deleting any text / emails that might implicate.

EFL: "oh there's nothing there"

Saints: "yes we told you that"

The idea that they're going to send in some hit squad to knock the doors off of St Mary's and seize electionics and forensically investigate them is comical. 

 

[Toadhall Saint]

3 minutes ago, trousers said:

 

 

Playing for time and rightly so.

[Saint Pete]

4 minutes ago, trousers said:

SAINTS CEO Phil Parsons has said the club are conducting an internal review in a new statement addressing the EFL charge for alleged spying.

 

Saints have been referred to a disciplinary commission by the EFL following a complaint of unauthorised filming at Middlesbrough's training ground.

 

An initial three-line Saints statement acknowledged the charges and vowed to "fully cooperate", but said they could make no further comment.

 

They are not expected to contest the charge for the incident, which took place on Thursday, two days before the Championship play-off semi-final.

 

While Boro are pushing for the harshest possible sanctions, including play-off expulsion, Saints will attempt to mitigate the circumstances of the breaches.

 

In a new statement, Parsons said: "We would like to provide a brief update regarding the incident reported at Middlesbrough last week.

 

"The club is fully cooperating with the EFL and the Disciplinary Commission, whilst also undertaking an internal review to ensure that all facts and context are properly understood.

"Given the intensity of the fixture schedule and the short turnaround between matches, we have requested time to complete that process thoroughly and responsibly.

"We understand the discussion and speculation that has followed over recent days, but we also believe it is important that the full context is established before conclusions are drawn.

"Having spent a significant amount of time around this football club, I know the character of the people within it.

"The togetherness shown by players, staff and supporters throughout this season has been a huge part of the progress we have made, and I am confident that spirit will remain unchanged.

"This season has represented another important step forward for the football club.

"While we know there is still more work ahead of us, and we are not yet where we ultimately want to be, the unity shown during challenging moments has continued to define Southampton Football Club.

"The support from our fans throughout the season has once again been exceptional, and everyone connected with the club remains fully committed to building long-term success in the right way.

"Dragan Solak continues to support the club financially, and we remain proud to have stayed competitive while operating within financial regulations, something that is important for the long-term stability of the club.

"Our focus now turns fully to this evening’s game. This is the time for all of us to get behind the team and create another special atmosphere at St Mary’s."

 

Basically playing for time then. No denial, but no clear admission either. 

[beatlesaint]

8 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

But our expulsion at that point would have promoted Boro, Hull, and Wrexham by one place each, so Hull would have been playing Boro, and Wrexham playing Millwall. 

And you have just underlined there exactly what a minefield throwing Saints out of the competition would produce. Thank you. 😂

[benjii]

It's clear we accept that some person with some link to the club was there.

But if that link is "former intern" and if we didn’t put him up to it, and if we didn't actually receive or use any of the info, then frankly this barely even merits a fine.

[tdmickey3]

9 minutes ago, trousers said:

SAINTS CEO Phil Parsons has said the club are conducting an internal review in a new statement addressing the EFL charge for alleged spying.

Saints have been referred to a disciplinary commission by the EFL following a complaint of unauthorised filming at Middlesbrough's training ground.

An initial three-line Saints statement acknowledged the charges and vowed to "fully cooperate", but said they could make no further comment.

They are not expected to contest the charge for the incident, which took place on Thursday, two days before the Championship play-off semi-final.

While Boro are pushing for the harshest possible sanctions, including play-off expulsion, Saints will attempt to mitigate the circumstances of the breaches.

In a new statement, Parsons said: "We would like to provide a brief update regarding the incident reported at Middlesbrough last week.

"The club is fully cooperating with the EFL and the Disciplinary Commission, whilst also undertaking an internal review to ensure that all facts and context are properly understood.

"Given the intensity of the fixture schedule and the short turnaround between matches, we have requested time to complete that process thoroughly and responsibly.

"We understand the discussion and speculation that has followed over recent days, but we also believe it is important that the full context is established before conclusions are drawn.

"Having spent a significant amount of time around this football club, I know the character of the people within it.

"The togetherness shown by players, staff and supporters throughout this season has been a huge part of the progress we have made, and I am confident that spirit will remain unchanged.

"This season has represented another important step forward for the football club.

"While we know there is still more work ahead of us, and we are not yet where we ultimately want to be, the unity shown during challenging moments has continued to define Southampton Football Club.

"The support from our fans throughout the season has once again been exceptional, and everyone connected with the club remains fully committed to building long-term success in the right way.

"Dragan Solak continues to support the club financially, and we remain proud to have stayed competitive while operating within financial regulations, something that is important for the long-term stability of the club.

"Our focus now turns fully to this evening’s game. This is the time for all of us to get behind the team and create another special atmosphere at St Mary’s."

 

A well written response to the situation and much different to the ridiculous rambling from elsewhere.

Of course, the Boro response is playing up to the mass hysteria whipped up but local media and the online reaction by the dense population of the oasis that is Middlesborough

[beatlesaint]

Parsons statement is gonna really boil the piss of Boro fans and those NE hacks 🙃

[tdmickey3]

Just now, beatlesaint said:

Parsons statement is gonna really boil the piss of Boro fans and those NE hacks 🙃

Good