Saints Expelled from Playoffs

[Dan Johnson]

Just now, Lighthouse said:

I’m still expecting some sort of Scooby Doo-esq plot twist, where they catch the spy in a big fishing net, pull his mask off and it was Rudi Skacel the whole time.

Has he signed yet, btw?

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

6 minutes ago, sockeye said:

Tickets out tomorrow

That's gonna cause some angst up on Teeside...36,000 tickets, west as expected.

"Cheer up grizzling-Gibbo

Oh what can it mean

to a sad smoggie bastard

and a shit football team"

[James]

3 minutes ago, St Chalet said:

18 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

This chap makes the point I was going to make far more eloquently. 

Expand  

Makes more sense why they’ve been briefing left right and centre. 

[Thripp87]

3 hours ago, Pamplemousse said:

This document is the written decision of an independent English Football League disciplinary commission regarding Swindon Town F.C. being punished in the 2025–26 EFL Trophy.

What happened

Swindon admitted two rule breaches during their Round of 16 match against Luton Town F.C. on 13 January 2026:

• They brought on Aaron Drinan as a substitute even though he was not named on the official teamsheet.
• They fielded Oliver Clarke despite him serving a suspension and therefore being ineligible to play.

Initially, Swindon disputed the second charge because they believed the suspension did not apply to the EFL Trophy, partly due to information shown on the FA’s online portal. However, after a separate FA ruling confirmed Clarke was ineligible, the club admitted both breaches.

Swindon’s argument

The club argued:

• The mistakes were administrative rather than deliberate.
• They acted in good faith regarding Clarke’s suspension.
• A financial fine would be a proportionate punishment.

EFL’s argument

The EFL argued:

• The integrity and fairness of the competition had been compromised.
• Swindon gained an unfair sporting advantage by using two players who should not have participated.
• Expulsion from the competition was the only suitable sanction.

Decision and punishment

The commission unanimously decided:

• Swindon would be expelled from the 2025–26 EFL Trophy.
• The club would receive a £40,000 fine, with £20,000 suspended unless they repeat a similar offence before the end of the 2026–27 season.

Why the commission took such a strong stance

The ruling repeatedly emphasises:

• Protecting public confidence in the fairness of the competition.
• The seriousness of fielding two ineligible players in a knockout match.
• The fact one of the players was club captain.
• That responsibility for eligibility and accurate teamsheets ultimately rests with the club, regardless of confusion or administrative error.

The commission also said that if there had only been one mistake, a fine alone might have been enough — but the combination of both breaches made expulsion proportionate.

 

 

 

 

You can’t compare the play off final and the repercussions of that to that pointless trophy.

Plus their error is far easier to prove.

[Matthew Le God]

8 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I’m still expecting some sort of Scooby Doo-esq plot twist, where they catch the spy in a big fishing net, pull his mask off and it was Rudi Skacel the whole time.

Flynn Downes = Fred

Shaggy = Ross Stewart

Tonda Eckert = As the (former) caretaker of the theme park

Steve Gibson = Scrappy Doo

Edited Thursday at 19:17 by Matthew Le God

[Patrick Bateman]

Just now, Matthew Le God said:

Steve Gibson = Scrappy Doo

You misspelled "penis".

[Holmes_and_Watson]

4 minutes ago, Dan Johnson said:

Has he signed yet, btw?

He has. But having played in a Scottish post-season split, he's play-off tied. 🙂

[SaintsRoyalty]

Why hasn’t the lowlife been sacked yet?! I’m bloody furious. If this isn’t bringing the club into disrepute what is?????

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, SaintsRoyalty said:

Why hasn’t the lowlife been sacked yet?! I’m bloody furious. If this isn’t bringing the club into disrepute what is?????

Due process 

Plus... how do you know he hasn't?

[chownie20]

Sorry, are we now saying the spy wasn't Salt, it's not even a current SFC employee, and indeed one we recently sacked who was previously employed by Boro???

 

Thought it was clear cut it was Salt, he deleted his LinkedIn, etc.

Edited Thursday at 19:17 by chownie20

[saintant]

56 minutes ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

If they do get the decision I really hope Hull do a number on them.

Well if Hull are fit enough to play longer than 60 minutes it should be no problem beating the Boro lot who will be blowing out their collective arses by then.

[Willo of Whiteley]

So what are the details of tickets? 

T&C’s was causing concern earlier because it was mentioned in the EFL statement

[Football Special]

4 minutes ago, SaintsRoyalty said:

Why hasn’t the lowlife been sacked yet?! I’m bloody furious. If this isn’t bringing the club into disrepute what is?????

Are you talking about Hellberg and his fake tears? I agree, what an embarrassment 

[Oisin]

I’m likening this to when they finally brought out a law against driving while using your phone as opposed to that being covered by “driving without due care” etc. Only imagine they didn’t stipulate it’d be 6 points and left it for the first prosecution only for that person to find out the punishment is the same as death by dangerous driving and prison time.

Is it wrong to do it? Yes. Did we do it? Quite possibly. Is it worth expulsion, the most severe punishment available in football? Really??

Of course it isn’t.  It just isn’t on my level a proportionate penalty.

[Whitey Grandad]

4 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Due process 

Plus... how do you know he hasn't?

You can't sack someone who doesn't work for you. 

[do i not like fizzy pop]

13 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I’m still expecting some sort of Scooby Doo-esq plot twist, where they catch the spy in a big fishing net, pull his mask off and it was Rudi Skacel the whole time.

Christ, I so wanted to first with the joke

Edited Thursday at 19:21 by do i not like fizzy pop
Too slow

[coalman]

6 minutes ago, SaintsRoyalty said:

Why hasn’t the lowlife been sacked yet?! I’m bloody furious. If this isn’t bringing the club into disrepute what is?????

Obvious Pompey troll is obvious.

[Saint NL]

5 minutes ago, chownie20 said:

Sorry, are we now saying the spy wasn't Salt, it's not even a current SFC employee, and indeed one we recently sacked who was previously employed by Boro???

 

Thought it was clear cut it was Salt, he deleted his LinkedIn, etc.

No, the spy was Salt.

There is apparently a whistle blower, a different guy that was sacked by Saints and has come forward with details of all our cheating ways.

It's probably bollocks.

[SW11_Saint]

Can’t read too much into it, but still nice to see! https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/hull-city-vs-southampton-playoff-final-2526

Edited Thursday at 19:23 by SW11_Saint

[AlexLaw76]

if we remain in the playoffs and able to beat Hull, you just know we draw Boro in one of the cups next year

[James G]

6 minutes ago, James said:

Makes more sense why they’ve been briefing left right and centre. 

So the EFL will carry copies of the Daily Star and Mail into the panel and present Boro's case. He was behind a tree, in a bush on a hill. He had professional recording equipment, a mobile phone, and he left the scene donning a fake tache and a hat. We think Southampton should be thrown out because Troy Deeney says so and please stop looking at page 3

[Patrick Bateman]

5 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Are you talking about Hellberg and his fake tears? I agree, what an embarrassment 

But but, his dreeeaaammm. 

[badgerx16]

6 minutes ago, chownie20 said:

Sorry, are we now saying the spy wasn't Salt, it's not even a current SFC employee, and indeed one we recently sacked who was previously employed by Boro???

 

Thought it was clear cut it was Salt, he deleted his LinkedIn, etc.

No, that is Boro's recently uncovered "whistleblower". Doesn't have any grievance against saints, no sir.

[Football Special]

1 minute ago, James G said:

So the EFL will carry copies of the Daily Star and Mail into the panel and present Boro's case. He was behind a tree, in a bush on a hill. He had professional recording equipment, a mobile phone, and he left the scene donning a fake tache and a hat. We think Southampton should be thrown out because Troy Deeney says so and please stop looking at page 3

Just waiting for Gibson to get his mate Kier to bring it up in Parliament 

[coalman]

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

[egg]

1 minute ago, badgerx16 said:

No, that is Boro's recently uncovered "whistleblower". Doesn't have any grievance against saints, no sir.

He may have, but if he has compelling evidence, I'm not sure if the relevance of any grudge against us. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, Football Special said:

Just waiting for Gibson to get his mate Kier to bring it up in Parliament 

 

1 minute ago, Football Special said:

Just waiting for Gibson to get his mate Kier to bring it up in Parliament 

If only Rishi was still PM

[coalman]

1 minute ago, egg said:

He may have, but if he has compelling evidence, I'm not sure if the relevance of any grudge against us. 

He was employed by us for maybe three months.

[stknowle]

1 hour ago, coalman said:

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

Agreed. In the highly unlikely event we get to play in the finaI I hope they beat us, SHIT no that’s gone too far 😇

Edited Thursday at 19:30 by stknowle

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, stknowle said:

Agreed. In the highly unlikely event we get to play in the finaI I hope they beat us, SHIT no that’s gone too far 😇

One club on the hook for 'spying', the other had had a transfer embargo

One for the purists 

[bpsaint]

5 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Just waiting for Gibson to get his mate Kier to bring it up in Parliament 

That wanker will be out on his arse by the time of the hearing 🤣

[badgerx16]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

One club on the hook for 'spying', the other had had a transfer embargo

One for the purists 

Unlike the totally spotless FA Cup finallists.

[SaintsLoyal]

Is there a name for this ex saints employee thats the alleged boro grass ?

[Mboto Gorge]

1 minute ago, SaintsLoyal said:

Is there a name for this ex saints employee thats the alleged boro grass ?

Jason Taylor 

[AlexLaw76]

[johnnyboy]

1 minute ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Jason Taylor 

@SaintsLoyal won’t like the fact he was once a Middlesbrough analyst ! 

[Saint NL]

6 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

7 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

One club on the hook for 'spying', the other had had a transfer embargo

One for the purists 

Unlike the totally spotless FA Cup finallists.

It's almost as if most teams cheat 

[trousers]

6 minutes ago, SaintsLoyal said:

Is there a name for this ex saints employee thats the alleged boro grass ?

 

5 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Jason Taylor 

Reading back at posts on a Boro forum from a few days ago, this whistleblower fella Jason Taylor took down his LinkedIn page at around the same time that our 'spy' Will Salt took down his... Coincidence? Not sure why Taylor would feel the need to delete his LinkedIn page given he's not done anything wrong... #makeofthatwhatyouwill

Edited Thursday at 19:40 by trousers

[beatlesaint]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

But they aren’t involved in the hearing according to the Sky Sports guy Rob Dorsett 🤷🏻‍♂️

[johnnyboy]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

[Toadhall Saint]

27 minutes ago, SaintsRoyalty said:

Why hasn’t the lowlife been sacked yet?! I’m bloody furious. If this isn’t bringing the club into disrepute what is?????

Can you please clarify who you mean by lowlife.

[Miltonaggro]

5 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Jesus Christ, this episode is like the matrix for the hard of thinking!

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Miltonaggro said:

Jesus Christ, this episode is like the matrix for the hard of thinking!

I will never ever forget their insane reaction to all of this

 

[Toadhall Saint]

22 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

if we remain in the playoffs and able to beat Hull, you just know we draw Boro in one of the cups next year

Let’s hope so eh

[Matthew Le God]

6 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

That is nonsense. It is between the EFL and Saints. Boro lawyers won't be presenting anything in person, nor can they appeal any decision. 

[beatlesaint]

I really hope our defence opens with the question as to whether the panel have watched the two matches and if so draw their attention to that first half up there. 
If anything shows there was absolutely no unfair advantage gained by the guy with the iPhone it’s all there, front and centre, in that 45 minutes.

[saintant]

1 hour ago, mss636 said:

Surely any former employee would be covered by an NDA?

Depends whether one was signed.

[Football Special]

10 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

None of that makes sense, they are not the prosecution 

[njs]

What I can’t get my head around is why the EFL didn’t pause the competition as soon as allegation was made. If they had fast tracked it and found us guilty then the Boro v Hull final could still be played within the original timeframe. Carrying on playing the Boro games should imply that they carry on with the final and deal with the consequences later. If we were found guilty after winning the final they could award promotion to Hull. It really seems as though they’ve left it too late. 

Edited Thursday at 19:49 by njs

[Miltonaggro]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

I will never ever forget their insane reaction to all of this

 

Genuinely 99% of the 'factoids' on this episode are pure conjecture and tripe - this is wot I fink will happen, they are bang to rights etc.  You always think a percentage of the Great British public on our sceptred isle are as thick as two short planks, but I may have to fucking emigrate after this.