The Spygate Saga

[saintwbu]

Maybe they’ve forgotten, and we’re just keeping quiet so they don’t remember suddenly 

Edited Monday at 21:00 by saintwbu

[CB Fry]

On 25/09/2026 at 15:04, MB said:

Said yesterday it could be Monday….

How's that going?

[hypochondriac]

26 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

How's that going?

FA will announce it at 11:59 and prove you wrong.

[The Kraken]

26 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

How's that going?

Monday’s not over yet.

Personally I’m fully expecting an announcement around 1157 that will prove to all of you doubters that MB definitely is fully all over his brief.

[Cuddles]

Foiled again!

[Saint Fan CaM]

2 hours ago, CB Fry said:

How's that going?

To be fair he didn’t specify which Monday it ‘could’ be. I am confident it could be this week, however could also be next week if it’s not this week. 😉

[Sunglasses Ron]

It's still only 9pm Monday in Honolulu!

[musesaint]

As this saga rolls ever on you can’t help but think that whatever the outcome it must be a massive distraction from the process of getting the squad to promotion. Add to that the impact of what’s been happening in the Irish squad and there’s going to be a lot of refocusing to do ahead of the Pompey game. 

[obelisk]

13 minutes ago, musesaint said:

As this saga rolls ever on you can’t help but think that whatever the outcome it must be a massive distraction from the process of getting the squad to promotion.

Some might suggest that's the FA, the EFL and Gibbo's plan.

[Weston Super Saint]

Is Tuesday the new Monday, or will it be Wednesday?

Let's not forget that Parson's interview last week said it would be a couple of weeks for the verdict - he may be a little better informed than MB this time...

[Weston Super Saint]

54 minutes ago, musesaint said:

As this saga rolls ever on you can’t help but think that whatever the outcome it must be a massive distraction from the process of getting the squad to promotion. Add to that the impact of what’s been happening in the Irish squad and there’s going to be a lot of refocusing to do ahead of the Pompey game. 

That's definitely one lunatic conspiracy theorist way to look at it, but probably isn't sane or rational.  

I assume there is some sort of Cabal involved with an agenda against us for you know, something, something.

As opposed to reality where the FA just aren't very quick at doing anything.  Like local Government on anti steroids.

Edited yesterday at 08:31 by Weston Super Saint

[Jack]

Yeah you can just see the FA remembering they should probably do something about it on the Thursday or Friday before the season resumes, and handing down Tonda’s ban just as he’s doing his presser for Pompey. Their handling of the whole thing is an absolute joke. 

[LiberalCommunist]

The FA, pushing shit around a room all week like fat dung beetles, just in time for recess, then the weekend. Then back fresh for work next week, ready to continue the process.

Fucking parasites. What ever the outcome. 

[Secret Site Agent]

27 minutes ago, LiberalCommunist said:

The FA, pushing shit around a room all week like fat dung beetles, just in time for recess, then the weekend. Then back fresh for work next week, ready to continue the process.

Fucking parasites. What ever the outcome. 

I think they'll wait, see if we are doing well in the league and look like promotion candidates, and if so, Ban him to end of the season.

[Pilchards]

I seriously don’t think any decision has been made yet.

You can’t keep this story secret and that’s why I say the club are waiting for the FA to publish it.

Going forward, the longer it’s taking the harder it gets for us to prepare for our south coast derby.

The FA need to get a fucking move on and stop pissing us around.

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, Jack said:

Yeah you can just see the FA remembering they should probably do something about it on the Thursday or Friday before the season resumes, and handing down Tonda’s ban just as he’s doing his presser for Pompey. Their handling of the whole thing is an absolute joke. 

I think the Man City leak is a serious fly in the ointment for the football authorities. Go any harder on an already draconian sanction for Southampton, and they'll leave themselves previous little wiggle room for Man City... And people like Mancini (as just one example) who this week have said that any illegal payments made to him are "man city's problem" will likely need to face significant long term bans from football if Eckert gets a ban for a couple of spying incidents.

[Secret Site Agent]

If the club knew.  They would leak it to the media.  There was a lot of vitriol and attaches against us for cheating, which changed to sympathy due to the harsh nature of the punishment. And with the Chelsea let off, and delay to the Man City 134 crimes, they probably are trying to appear harsh, but not too harsh, as our crime is nothing like what they both have done.  They benefitted enormously by what they did, we still lost, and it's only a crime in the EFL and only within 3 days of the match.

[Football Special]

45 minutes ago, Pilchards said:

I seriously don’t think any decision has been made yet.

You can’t keep this story secret and that’s why I say the club are waiting for the FA to publish it.

Going forward, the longer it’s taking the harder it gets for us to prepare for our south coast derby.

The FA need to get a fucking move on and stop pissing us around.

Surely we just prepare for south coast derby as we would , missing players for international duty more of a hindrance 

[Pamplemousse]

Of course one possible option is that the FA thought any sanction imposed was too lenient and they're the ones to have appealed it.

[trousers]

1 hour ago, Saint86 said:

I think the Man City leak is a serious fly in the ointment for the football authorities. Go any harder on an already draconian sanction for Southampton, and they'll leave themselves previous little wiggle room for Man City..

Yeah, I'm clinging onto the hope that the Man City situation leads the FA to hold back on any additional draconian action against Tonda for this very reason. But that does somewhat hinge on the FA actually thinking about the impact of what they do, and the context thereof, which somewhat dissipates any such hope...!

[West Dean FC Legend]

Funny you should write that I was thinking the same - a bit positive I know, I'll go and lie down in a minute - but if they don't hammer the crap out of Man City, which I would imagine they won't [the money behind them is mental] then really pounding Saints into the ground is going to look very bad - even for the media that hate us. 

Surely they have that tiny bit of commonsense?

See you later, off for the lie down now.

[trousers]

4 minutes ago, West Dean FC Legend said:

Surely they have that tiny bit of commonsense?

 

[West Dean FC Legend]

 Be fair - I did say 'tiny' 🤣

[Secret Site Agent]

Well, its all going to happen at once.

 

Man City sanctions

 

 

And Tonde Sanctions

 

 

 

 

[Saint86]

53 minutes ago, West Dean FC Legend said:

Funny you should write that I was thinking the same - a bit positive I know, I'll go and lie down in a minute - but if they don't hammer the crap out of Man City, which I would imagine they won't [the money behind them is mental] then really pounding Saints into the ground is going to look very bad - even for the media that hate us. 

Surely they have that tiny bit of commonsense?

See you later, off for the lie down now.

What may weight against us here, is that there is likely at least a year still to run on the man city case.

Hopefully the Tonda case is resolved this side of Christmas... the longer it goes on i can also see a scenario where they ban him for the playoffs... even seeing it as a poetic justice.

[egg]

5 hours ago, musesaint said:

As this saga rolls ever on you can’t help but think that whatever the outcome it must be a massive distraction from the process of getting the squad to promotion. Add to that the impact of what’s been happening in the Irish squad and there’s going to be a lot of refocusing to do ahead of the Pompey game. 

I agree, but the club will have anticipated uncertainty and distraction when they decided to back Tonda. Consequences etc. 

[SNOWY]

It could be that Tonda has already been notified of the FA decision and is now in the period (28 day from memory?) where he has the option to appeal. I don't think the FA are obliged to make a public announcement. The City verdict is only in the public domain because it has been leaked, City have appealed it seems.

 

[Saint Pete]

59 minutes ago, SNOWY said:

It could be that Tonda has already been notified of the FA decision and is now in the period (28 day from memory?) where he has the option to appeal. I don't think the FA are obliged to make a public announcement. The City verdict is only in the public domain because it has been leaked, City have appealed it seems.

 

I think that's quite likely, think with City it was also mentioned there was supposed to be a non disclosure agreement on both sides (obviously not adhered to by someone in that case!), so there may be similar with Tonda until any appeal has been heard. 

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Saint Pete said:

I think that's quite likely, think with City it was also mentioned there was supposed to be a non disclosure agreement on both sides (obviously not adhered to by someone in that case!), so there may be similar with Tonda until any appeal has been heard. 

You have to wonder whether City engineered the leak because I've heard legal experts claim the fact that it was leaked could work in their favour and be put forward by their legal team in any defence case against the charges.

[Weston Super Saint]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

You have to wonder whether City engineered the leak because I've heard legal experts claim the fact that it was leaked could work in their favour and be put forward by their legal team in any defence case against the charges.

Sure, because until the leak it was a secret. Absolutely no one on the planet knew about their cheating, no one.

[S-Clarke]

5 hours ago, Secret Site Agent said:

 

 

 

What's it got to do with Michael Owen? I get that he is an awful pundit, but he doesn't deserve to be dragged into this.

[Charlie Wayman]

7 hours ago, Saint86 said:

I think the Man City leak is a serious fly in the ointment for the football authorities. Go any harder on an already draconian sanction for Southampton, and they'll leave themselves previous little wiggle room for Man City... And people like Mancini (as just one example) who this week have said that any illegal payments made to him are "man city's problem" will likely need to face significant long term bans from football if Eckert gets a ban for a couple of spying incidents.

Nail on the head. Exactly this. 

[manji]

I predict news will be released at 6:57 in the morning in honour of the Derby .

[Matthew Le God]

8 hours ago, Saint86 said:

I think the Man City leak is a serious fly in the ointment for the football authorities. Go any harder on an already draconian sanction for Southampton, and they'll leave themselves previous little wiggle room for Man City... And people like Mancini (as just one example) who this week have said that any illegal payments made to him are "man city's problem" will likely need to face significant long term bans from football if Eckert gets a ban for a couple of spying incidents.

 

38 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Nail on the head. Exactly this. 

Not being dealt with by the same governing bodies.

EFL for Saints

FA for Eckert 

Premier League for Man City

Edited yesterday at 18:12 by Matthew Le God

[Miltonaggro]

21 hours ago, CB Fry said:

How's that going?

Swimmingly...

[MB]

He’s still banned guys. Similar to the city situation the club are aware and preparing an appeal hence why nothing official has come out from either camp. 
 

its all why the club have spoken to Rob Edward’s if as expected the clubs appeal is fruitless. 

[LiberalCommunist]

Yeah, that does seem rather obvious now. 

[westmidlandsaint]

15 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

Not being dealt with by the same governing bodies.

EFL for Saints

FA for Eckert 

Premier League for Man City

Could the FA charge people at Man City boardroom level of were involved? SFC sanctioned by EFL but Tonda by FA. Surely City by the PL but Officials should also be charged like Tonda for "not acting in good faith" surely again that is a hell of a lot worse than Tonda. Will that come into FA's thinking, if we ban Tonda for any long period they're going to have to look at life bans for City execs surey?

[Disco Stu]

1 hour ago, LiberalCommunist said:

Yeah, that does seem rather obvious now. 

It was always obvious 

[Fabrice29]

1 hour ago, MB said:

He’s still banned guys. Similar to the city situation the club are aware and preparing an appeal hence why nothing official has come out from either camp. 
 

its all why the club have spoken to Rob Edward’s if as expected the clubs appeal is fruitless. 

  Bloody long appeal process.

On 01/08/2026 at 18:38, MB said:

My understanding is the club are aware of said punishment but are considering options for appeal. Its not as harsh though as people fear. All I really know. 

 

The audacity is admirable to be fair.

[saintant]

38 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

  Bloody long appeal process.

The audacity is admirable to be fair.

I don't get our interest in Rob Edwards. He'd come in and impose 3 centre backs with wing backs. Great news for Capn Jack but the fans will not like it one little bit.

[Pamplemousse]

Looking back at previous decisions from the disciplinary board, there is nothing stopping the FA from publishing the sanction, even if there is a right of appeal. 

Whatever the reason for the delay, waiting for a potential appeal isn't it.

[Lighthouse]

On 24/09/2026 at 23:27, MB said:

Tomorrow or Monday 

 

On 25/09/2026 at 01:36, MB said:

Look I really don’t give a shit. I’ll stop passing off info on here. Feel free to apologise to me tomorrow.

I’ll get the ball rolling on this by offering my sincerest apologies.

[Patrick Bateman]

Can we do a "not Rob Edwards" chant similar to GoN?  Hopefully won't be too late by the skates match. 

[Badger]

20 hours ago, saintant said:

You have to wonder whether City engineered the leak because I've heard legal experts claim the fact that it was leaked could work in their favour and be put forward by their legal team in any defence case against the charges.

Not sure that works if it’s a tribunal. It’s not the same as facing a jury where the argument might be that publicity jeopardises a fair trial. 
 

That said, it might help to shape the mood around the hearing. Something we missed earlier in the year it seems. 

[Badger]

16 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Can we do a "not Rob Edwards" chant similar to GoN?  Hopefully won't be too late by the skates match. 

Why not just show support for Tonda (if he’s still here)? And the team of course. 

[saintant]

Just now, Badger said:

Not sure that works if it’s a tribunal. It’s not the same as facing a jury where the argument might be that publicity jeopardises a fair trial. 
 

That said, it might help to shape the mood around the hearing. Something we missed earlier in the year it seems. 

Well it was suggested as a possibility by Stefan Borson on Talk Sport and he's a very well respected lawyer. Doesn't mean he'll prove to be correct of course.

[egg]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Well it was suggested as a possibility by Stefan Borson on Talk Sport and he's a very well respected lawyer. Doesn't mean he'll prove to be correct of course.

What do you mean by "defence"? They've made their defence, and lost. 

An appeal would focus on the decision being wrong. A leak of the outcome wouldn't prejudice that - the appeal tribunal will know the decision as they'd be deciding if it was wrong. 

[saintant]

6 minutes ago, egg said:

What do you mean by "defence"? They've made their defence, and lost. 

An appeal would focus on the decision being wrong. A leak of the outcome wouldn't prejudice that - the appeal tribunal will know the decision as they'd be deciding if it was wrong. 

Yeah 'defence' was the wrong word. The rest is just something I heard from Stefan Borson who, I assume, knows a lot more about these things than I do.

[egg]

Just now, saintant said:

Yeah 'defence' was the wrong word. The rest is just something I heard from Stefan Borson who, I assume, knows a lot more about these things than I do.

Whatever the word used, City aren't prejudiced by the outcome being out there. The appeal tribunal will decide it on its merits. I suspect you've listened to a media hungry lawyer.