Saints Expelled from Playoffs

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

7 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

I would say its impossible to spy on most teams as its just the cheapskates who cant afford walls.

 

And I can't believe we're the only club that's engaged in 'spying'. We're just the only club that employs a kid who can't hide behind a tree!

Tonda, I see is saying it's the norm on the continent and he didn't realise he was breaking any rules.

[sfc4prem]

 

7 minutes ago, Thripp87 said:

I’ve taken some time to compose myself from this news, my initial reaction was anger and complete shock. I didn’t see this coming at all. My immediate disappointment is for my son, 8 years old, in tears tonight because of my own football club. Not because we have lost in the last minute, but because of the single handed most stupid decision a professional sports club has made. 
 

Sorry mate. I haven't told my 10 year old daughter. She'll find it hard to understand.

I find it hard to understand.

Livid at the whole situation. Feels so unjust. So unfair. Us Saints fans have had kicks in the teeth and bollocks for years now. When will it fucking stop?

Edited 1 hour ago by sfc4prem

[BotleySaint]

2 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

To be fair the AI was working overload yesterday creating some funny shit.

Oh yes, it was worth it even if we were wrong 

[saintant]

20 minutes ago, trousers said:

@SaintlyAnd needs to get his friend to whistleblow to the EFL sharpish I reckon...

 

Unfortunately none of this is relevant. We got caught breaking the rules ahead of a play-off semi final and a chance at the 200 million pound prize. We can't claim everybody does it even if true. 

[RedArmy]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

We did get really good at corners didn't we. 

So when do Arsenal get their title taken off them? They’re good at corners too, must be spying. 

[obelisk]

Goodness knows what's going to happen to Man City when all those much more serious charges are dealt with if this is what they hand down for a spot of scouting opponents.

[Lord Duckhunter]

5 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

all for a bit of ill-judged and incompetent spying

Do people still believe this? 
 

“A bit”, “incompetent”. Only getting caught once, shows a level of competence. Anyone who doesn’t think there was widespread attempts to cheat is living in cloud cuckoo land. I suspect that’s why the punishment is so harsh, they knew full well we were at it a lot more than we admitted.

[Convict Colony]

3 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

Proportionality is the bigger issue, not culpability. 

10000000% this

Oxford and Ipswich in league and we got 1 pt.

We would of still played Boro so different punishment should be applied for spying on them not group all 3 together.

[skintsaint]

1 minute ago, RedArmy said:

So when do Arsenal get their title taken off them? They’re good at corners too, must be spying. 

They are allowed to scout training right upto matchday though.

[beatlesaint]

Who hears our appeal? 
Is it the same panel that made this ruling today?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

49 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

It throws everything up in the air, the entire league season has been put into disarray. Derby and Wrexham are more than entitled to come forward here, they just missed out on the playoffs. 

How many clubs are going to be looking at this and thinking....oh, we could have finished in position x had we not been beaten by Southampton. Heck, even Arsenal could argue they may be FA Cup Winners.

This isn't just impacting us now, we've pulled the entire season into disarray.

Consider the rule having been in place, and then Bielsa popped up to say they'd always done it.

Going by this result, Leeds would be:-

Deducted a massive of points. But, if the play off result here is followed through, then

automatically relegated. Either with matches voided or an automatic 3-0 victory awarded to all opponents.

If it's systemic, at what point do you rely on individual clubs coming forward, before determining it was likely all of them, and punish accordingly.

[sadoldgit]

8 minutes ago, Thripp87 said:

I’ve taken some time to compose myself from this news, my initial reaction was anger and complete shock. I didn’t see this coming at all. My immediate disappointment is for my son, 8 years old, in tears tonight because of my own football club. Not because we have lost in the last minute, but because of the single handed most stupid decision a professional sports club has made. 
We have beaten Arsenal and almost Man City, two clubs we couldn’t possibly spy on due to the measures in place, that should show how ridiculous this whole decision was. The results of the 3 games we have admitted speaks volumes of the decision we have made.

The club seriously needs to come out with some PR, forget appeals and lawyers, that ship has sailed. A complete refund to the fans of the whole season is the first thing that should be brought in. I sit here tonight becoming more frustrated at my own club than anything or anyone else. I want to know who is accountable for this. Assuming it was Tonda who sanctioned this he can fuck off.

I do however take huge anger at the fact Hull have not just been promoted. Middlesbrough being reinstated is a complete kick in the bollocks. EFL couldn’t possibly not play the most expensive game in football.

The questions I have unanswered. 1.)Have Oxford and Ipswich come out with evidence, if so, why did we admit it?

2.) Who authorised it?

3.) Are we at risk of being taken to court by our own players? Imagine running through a brick wall like they have the last 21 games, to be let down by the club like this. They have been robbed of premier league wage increases etc.

4.) logistically how do they play this game on Saturday? Hull are at a huge disadvantage now having prepared to play us,

 

Conspiracy theory alert -

What if they said fess up to other spying crimes and we will go easier on you and then did the dirty on us?

I know, clutching at straws.

[S-Clarke]

Just now, beatlesaint said:

Who hears our appeal? 
Is it the same panel that made this ruling today?

Steve Gibson probably.

[Midfield_General]

Anyone know a new manager who's good at working with scar tissue? 

[Dan Johnson]

Legally speaking I just don’t know how any of this makes sense.

Rule is spying 72 hours before a game, meaning only the first fixture would be in breach of the rules, not the second leg. 
 

why have Middlesbrough been reinstated over Millwall as part of OUR punishment? If we’re kicked out the playoffs then surely Wrexham as the next team in line should compete with Middlesbrough for that Wembley position?

Do other teams who have broken rules, like financial fair play, also face the potential of being thrown out?

[Jonnyboy]

Feckin joke. 

[skintsaint]

2 minutes ago, obelisk said:

Goodness knows what's going to happen to Man City when all those much more serious charges are dealt with if this is what they hand down for a spot of scouting opponents.

It is why they are hurrying this through.

https://tribuna.com/en/news/2026-05-15-premier-league-proposes-major-psr-rule-change-allowing-settlement-deals-sky-news/

[Convict Colony]

1 minute ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Do people still believe this? 
 

“A bit”, “incompetent”. Only getting caught once, shows a level of competence. Anyone who doesn’t think there was widespread attempts to cheat is living in cloud cuckoo land. I suspect that’s why the punishment is so harsh, they knew full well we were at it a lot more than we admitted.

Wish we did it from Aug to Nov

[SaintLondon]

Just now, beatlesaint said:

Is it the same panel that made this ruling today?

No, it's a brand new panel.

[skintsaint]

1 minute ago, beatlesaint said:

Who hears our appeal? 
Is it the same panel that made this ruling today?

New 3 person panel.

[sfc4prem]

7 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

I'm pretty sure Wrexham are behind all this. Ryan's pulled a few strings to create an extra dramatic cliffhanger for the last episode of Season 5

It's Hollywood stuff, it really fucking is. Is this even happening? Mental.

[sadoldgit]

1 minute ago, beatlesaint said:

Who hears our appeal? 
Is it the same panel that made this ruling today?

It’s a new panel apparently.

[tdmickey3]

Ekhert has admitted it

[trousers]

14 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

I've never wanted Hull to win a game of football so much.

Why? Because they're also rule breakers and we therefore have something in common...?

[spyinthesky]

14 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

That looks like Parsons trying to save face / his own arse, there.

I understand Phil Parsons was royally fucked off at a recent Golf Event.
Was this because he knew that:
i) the the club's indiscretions had been found out with his knowledge or
ii)  that he had just found out?

At the moment we dont know, so let's wait until more information becomes available

Edited 1 hour ago by spyinthesky

[AlexLaw76]

Imagine the scenes on the Boro sites if we are given the final back

🤪

[Lighthouse]

4 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Then fine the club £100-200m and have them pay it then, don't drag the fans along with it as none of it is our fault.

They aren’t going to fine a club £200m and let us potentially get promoted, having cheated. Both those things would be silly in isolation but combined would be an absolute farce. We’d basically be insolvent and having to sell any player of value in a Championship squad, whilst playing Arsenal and Man City. The PL would have kittens.

[Doctoroncall]

12 minutes ago, Stevejb said:

What does everyone think will happen with our appeal?

Get a couple of points back for next season perhaps. 
 

The trouble is there were multiple breaches. Maybe even more than the three reported for this IDC. 
 

Also need to see if the FA ban any staff. 

[Saint_clark]

36 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

You are actually pleased you were right, what an utter prick you are

No I'm not. I'm fuming. But people on here were embarrassing themselves accusing Boro of being in an echo chamber when that's exactly what this place had become.

[PJ]

it's obvious we admitted to Oxford and Ipswich games - hoping to get some good favour with EFL for transparency - knowing that these games wouldn't cause the EFL even more headaches with the affected teams. We know Ipswich won't kick-off with the EFL (because they're up and don't care) and Oxford can't complain our cheating prevented them a chance of survival.

[AlexLaw76]

[sfc4prem]

6 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Yep, fucking amateur hour. Drag it out as long as we can. 
 

Why the fuck did we agree to move it all up and admit to it? 

Wonder if by admitting to it we were hoping for leniency and clemency? Like fuck did we get it. The EFL have thrown the whole fucking library at us.

[tdmickey3]

Just now, Saint_clark said:

No I'm not. I'm fuming. But people on here were embarrassing themselves accusing Boro of being in an echo chamber when that's exactly what this place had become.

Bollox, you love being right and bragging about it 

[SaintLondon]

What I want to know is, who the fuck is this whistleblower and why are they such a grass? (I'm just deflecting my anger)

[beatlesaint]

1 minute ago, sadoldgit said:

It’s a new panel apparently.

Ok thanks. Hence EFL’s line about the Final may change again, just to cover their arses IF this new panel decide it’s too harsh…….they won’t of course but I guess Parsons is clinging desperately to that.

[sadoldgit]

2 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Ekhert has admitted it

I wonder what he wanted to say before but couldn’t? Maybe that everybody does it so no biggy?

[Mltburger]

Sorry to be mercenary but I now want my refund for my Wembley tickets.

What will add salt to the wound if the club and Wembley trouser the £2.50 booking fee.

The last time Saint's had to rearrange a game due to TV, you didn't get a refund on the booking fee.

Given none of this the fault of the fans, any claim that £90,000 (35,000 x 2.50) is needed to administer the issuing of tickets and refunds will be the final straw of many final straws!!

 

 

[SambaMaverick]

Just now, SaintLondon said:

What I want to know is, who the fuck is this whistleblower and why are they such a grass? (I'm just deflecting my anger)

Because they now work for Boro and it is in their interest to grass

[Saint_clark]

6 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

 

Sorry mate. I haven't told my 10 year old daughter. She'll find it hard to understand.

I find it hard to understand.

Livid at the whole situation. Feels so unjust. So unfair. Us Saints fans have had kicks in the teeth and bollocks for years now. When will it fucking stop?

Hadn't even considered how little kids would be confused and devastated. Heartbreaking.

[AlexLaw76]

 

[TwoPints]

I find it astounding that the club still haven't issued a statement on this.  Even if it's just to acknowledge the decision, tell us they're appealing, to hold on until the appeals over and reassure fans that they'll be fully reimbursed for tickets and Saints travel.  Instead we just have silence.  Talk about contempt for your fans. Jeez. 

[RedArmy]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Ok yeah Parsons can go first. 
 

What a fucking brain dead cunt 

[Gloucester Saint]

6 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Ekhert has admitted it

Gardening leave, internal investigation and gross misconduct sacking I’d have assumed.

Not that I care tbh. Club and city badly damaged well beyond today’s sporting sanction. That’s only a surface level issue. Needs several years under brand new, component, clean, ambitious ownership. Years of abuse for the fans to endure before, during and after games for a while I’m afraid.

Edited 1 hour ago by Gloucester Saint

[whelk]

5 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Who hears our appeal? 
Is it the same panel that made this ruling today?

No totally different three panel

[O_Lord_Marian]

Just now, Saint_clark said:

No I'm not. I'm fuming. But people on here were embarrassing themselves accusing Boro of being in an echo chamber when that's exactly what this place had become.

Yeah but you're still a prick. This club and forum is like family, cannot choose them, cannot lose them, but have to put up with them.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

19 minutes ago, Sir Ralph said:

So next year we should get a team of lawyers and pursue breaches of every team that is challenging us. Wait until the end of the season and post the package to the efl. 

Yes, we will have analysts near other clubs training grounds.

Not to watch their traing. Just to capture all the other clubs' analysts breaching the 72 hour rule.

Although, this decision should put a stop to that.

[Saint Gifford]

Every club is involved. We are just incompetent sending an intern with a iphone 10. 
 

Dragon, use your billions to bankrupt the EFL, and the incompetent so called impartial committee that must have no idea. 

Just tie the EFL and Independent committee in years of litigation.

I happy to transfer Saints to the Serbian League until this mess is sorted, no rules that I can find that gives us the right to withdraw from the EFL and join a different League and Country. 

 

[Morse]

Apart from the  disproportionate penalty. Why the fuck have Middlesborough been put through???? Either Hull go up unopposed or Middlesborough should play Wrexham

[Zorba]

Is the punishment disproportionate?

Going forward, if the EFL find a club guilty of inappropriate observations within 72 hours of kick-off, the 3 points are automatically awarded to the wronged side regardless of the result when the game took place. Would that be proportionate?

If it happens during the play-offs, the wronged side are awarded the wins/win automatically.

I don’t think that’s disproportionate. It’s a kick in the balls for us because we didn’t already know the penalty.. But we cheated and now we know.

 

..

Edited 1 hour ago by Zorba

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

1 minute ago, Mltburger said:

Sorry to be mercenary but I now want my refund for my Wembley tickets.

What will add salt to the wound if the club and Wembley trouser the £2.50 booking fee.

The last time Saint's had to rearrange a game due to TV, you didn't get a refund on the booking fee.

Given none of this the fault of the fans, any claim that £90,000 (35,000 x 2.50) is needed to administer the issuing of tickets and refunds will be the final straw of many final straws!!

 

 

This is a big issue. I don't care about the booking fee but in the circumstances I am damned if the club is going to benefit after what they have done.