The Spygate Saga - 6 Week ban suspended for Eckert

[Badger]

13 minutes ago, Nordic Saint said:

There is no way that having an ex-Middlesbrough player and another lawyer who'd advised Middlesbrough in the past on an EFL disciplinary panel that decided to replace Southampton with Middlesbrough in the play-off final could be seen as impartial and neither was shortening the appeal period to ensure it terminated before the play-off final took place, which did not give enough time for Southampton's legal team to investigate the Middlesbrough connections of the panel members.  There was also a lot of false and misleading information fed to the media, which prejudiced the case.

Perhaps now is the time to turn the spotlight on Middlesbrough's role in all of this, including, for example, who came up with the suggestion of "bullying" and  "use of high level surveillance equipment" and leaked it to the media?

This is one reason you really have to question our response to it, and legal advice we brought in. Why didn’t we create over the possible fact members of the panel might be conflicted before the event ? No good bleating about it afterwards and trying to recover lost ground.

Badly handled it seems. 

13 minutes ago, obelisk said:

I cannot help but compare the FA panel to that cobbled together by the EFL.

The FA panel took their time to consider the evidence and ignored calls from the accusers for them to have the accused executed.

The EFL panel had the appearance of not being independent, it was heavily influenced by the accusers and declined to consider the defence or even mitigation. It was rushed and then quickly produced the draconian measures that its employers demanded. 

I wouldn't be surprised if Dragan wasn't considering taking some sort of revenge on the EFL clowns.

Seems we were badly advised and tactically naive in our approach. 

Parsons has taken much of the blame for a muppetry approach, but shame Dragan didn’t send in the big guns from the outset. 

(IMHO as someone used to say) 

[Patrick Bateman]

25 minutes ago, Paul Chuckle said:

These 2 are absolutely fuming about the outcome. No idea who they are but they are not happy.

There are so many of these types all over the internet - no idea who they are, plenty of clickbait around, pft, who cares.

The only podcast I bother with is our own Total Saints which is decent.

[Fabrice29]

28 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

With hindsight, it would be interesting to know what would have happened if we HADN'T agreed to the accelerated timeline of events. We were surely within our rights to say no, we want to follow the proper process which would have meant the playoff final went ahead with us in. What would the EFL had done then if we'd been promoted? Sent Hull up anyway? I don't think so.

Think Eckert would receive a harsher punishment in that instance. It's pretty clear from the report that the EFL punishment and Eckerts contrition are the two main factors for reduction and suspension. 

Think the idea that todays ruling is a bad reflection the EFL ruling is a wrong one in that sense. FA had two things the EFL didn't, a previous punishment and the time to interview Eckert a few months on whilst he's reflected, shown remorse and worked on his understanding.

[Oldandtired]

13 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Think Eckert would receive a harsher punishment in that instance. It's pretty clear from the report that the EFL punishment and Eckerts contrition are the two main factors for reduction and suspension. 

Think the idea that todays ruling is a bad reflection the EFL ruling is a wrong one in that sense. FA had two things the EFL didn't, a previous punishment and the time to interview Eckert a few months on whilst he's reflected, shown remorse and worked on his understanding.

That's certainly one way of looking at it, however to my mind there seems to be no way of squaring the EFL Middlesborough connection circle... how could Eckert have got a totally impartial hearing at the EFL with that in place?

[Fabrice29]

8 minutes ago, Oldandtired said:

That's certainly one way of looking at it, however to my mind there seems to be no way of squaring the EFL Middlesborough connection circle... how could Eckert have got a totally impartial hearing at the EFL with that in place?

It's not just a way of looking at it, it's what the FA have said. 

Not sure there is any evidence of bias in the EFL stuff is there? Other than fans convinced that because it went Boro's way and not ours then it must be a conspiracy theory. As has been pointed out on here before, us being bang to rights is probably more of a factor that someone having a connection to Boro. The report today hasn't exonerated us or Eckert remember, it's confirmed pretty much all relevant detail required, we broke the rules and a sporting sanction is appropriate.

Edited 1 hour ago by Fabrice29

[Willo of Whiteley]

49 minutes ago, Paul Chuckle said:

These 2 are absolutely fuming about the outcome. No idea who they are but they are not happy.

Two of the biggest bellends in terms of podcasting.

I remember when we beat Leeds at Wembley, they were absolutely devastated. 😂

[Fabrice29]

1 minute ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Two of the biggest bellends in terms of podcasting.

I remember when we beat Leeds at Wembley, they were absolutely devastated. 😂

You know one of those two didn't do the podcast at that time, right?

[Willo of Whiteley]

Just now, Fabrice29 said:

You know one of those two didn't do the podcast at that time, right?

The original two.

Wasnt aware they’d split, if they have.

Havent listened since that day. Whoever the two muppets were were on the verge of tears 😂

[trousers]

😂

[Fabrice29]

MLT such a wally isn’t he 😂

[trousers]

😂

[Patrick Bateman]

15 minutes ago, trousers said:

😂

Joe M ... another tedious twat. Get in the bin with the ball bag from the Sun.

[Britannia]

Jobi McAnuff is a miserable sod isn’t he.

[saintant]

Just now, Britannia said:

Jobi McAnuff is a miserable sod isn’t he.

You'd think, having been in the game, he'd be fully aware this stuff was going on and has always gone on at most other clubs. It's common knowledge within the game so time he stopped denying it. 

[Britannia]

34 minutes ago, saintant said:

You'd think, having been in the game, he'd be fully aware this stuff was going on and has always gone on at most other clubs. It's common knowledge within the game so time he stopped denying it. 

I've just listened to his interview from this evening.

Adam mentions that it's common knowledge this happens.  Jobi refutes it.  He refuses to acknowledge that it happens because it doesn't fit within his ideology.  He prevaricates a bit but doesn't acknowledge it.  Grandstanding doesn't make the problem go away. 

I strongly disagree with cheating, dishonesty and poor sportsmanship and wish it didn't happen.

Edited 6 minutes ago by Britannia

[Cuddles]

On 04/10/2026 at 12:38, Cuddles said:

Why's everyone being so negative? It will be fine. Probably a suspended ban or something.

Fuck me. I even got the fine bit right 😉