...however it might be a bit like the boxing. An up and coming boxer might hope to get a tilt at the World Title after a stream of good wins, when the momentum is with him and he is feeling at his very confident best. But sometimes it doesn't happen like that. He might not have been expecting to fight for the title at short notice.
Occasionally a title fight may have been arranged for some time between the champion and the number one challenger. But if the challenger is injured in training and cannot possibly fight then, in light of the stadium having been booked, the TV coverage arranged and all the undercard fights set up, the promoter or sanctioning body will look around for someone to step into the fight at short notice.
That doesn't the give substitute long to prepare, but it gives him a CHANCE. Let's hope Boro can find that knock-out blow. Time for motivation from the corner man, and for the protagonist to realise THIS is what his entire career so far has been building up to. These opportunities come along rarely. Come on!
#UTB.
@powmillnaemore - that would be Typical Boro!
That said, as Weder alluded to above, any reduction in punishment will cause yet more chaos and uncertainty as to what happens on Saturday.
The logistics are bad enough as it is but leaving it to Thursday is ridiculous.
Interesting that quite a few people involved in football are claiming that they think the punishment is disproportionately harsh and that they think Southampton have a good chance of overturning the expulsion at the appeal today.
Though they argue that it’s harsh given the potential for a £200m PL windfall but then you could easily argue the opposite that should club that have admitted to cheating be simply fined or have a punishment imposed after they have potentially gained promotion?
It will be more legal arguments downplaying the advantages of the offense versus the severity of the punishment.
The EFL are hoping it’s concluded today but still haven’t ruled out postponing the final 🙈
Another observation made by a relative having looked at the wording - Southampton have been expelled from the Play Offs NOT just the final therefore the 2 games against us were null and void - we had a bye into the final. If the decision had been made before the games, then that is what would have happened.
That makes me feel a lot better about our right to play Hull City although I guess the majority of other teams fans might not see the nuances in the decision!
An interesting article from the Guardian - apparently Southampton’s players aren’t happy. Bless ‘em.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/southampton-kicked-out-of-championship-playoff-final-docked-four-points-for-spying?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Another fascinating look at the detail behind the scandal in the Daily Telegraph today. We are lucky to have Steve Gibson.
It should be noted that the League Arbitration Panel, who hear the appeal sits as a supervisory review body and assesses the validity of a decision under English law and generally limits its scope to reviewing the following...
- Flaws in how the original disciplinary process was conducted.
- Decisions that are unreasonable or illogical.
- Cases where the board acted beyond its legal authority
The decisions and awards made by a League Arbitration Panel are final, binding on all parties, and generally cannot be further appealed
It would appear that Southampton will only be able to challenge the second point in claiming the decision to expel them was unreasonable. Though they would have to prove that by spying they had not gained an advantage to both finish in their league position and win the play-off semi-final.
@werdermouth. “Decisions that are unreasonable or illogical.”
Good luck with that given they have already thrown out Swindon for inadvertent breaches (cheating) as opposed to Southampton’s deliberate breaches (cheating).
We often talk about the need for referees to be fair and consistent and we should expect the same criteria to be applied when dealing with EFL breaches of rules and regulations by members.
Based on that I see no reason for the original decision to be over turned. 😎
Well let's hope the decision is not overturned on appeal as MFC have already started selling tickets for Wembley to supporters with 140+ points. As things stand both Southampton and Boro fans will have tickets for the same seats 🤔
https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2026/may/20/ticket-details-for-sky-bet-championship-play-off-final/
Well let's hope the decision is not overturned on appeal as MFC have already started selling tickets for Wembley to supporters with 140+ points. As things stand both Southampton and Boro fans will have tickets for the same seats 🤔
I suppose that's one way to encourage making up and being friends again...
Though due to the earlier kick-off of Boro v Hull, at least Boro fans will get to their seat an hour earlier than Southampton fans 😉
After posting that laughing face I had another thought. Mr Eckhart is a German so maybe our fans will turn up eearly, but only to find the Saints fans have put their towel on the seat already !!!!
I have just been catching up on the Spygate scandal, which I only read about late last night, expecting the decision to come today.
Reading some of the comments about the harshness of the Southampton punishment, a fair number were from EX - Southampton employees.
However, there have been two or three from Legal professionals that have stated the punishment is excessive, especially as there was no precedent. They all expect the initial IDC decision to be overturned with a lesser punishment that allows Southampton to go to Wembley.
The Sinners Legal Team have been working through the night and are confident they will win out.
@pedro i am not sure how that just because there is no precedent that this punishement as decided in setting the precedent can be judged disproportionate. Surely when a precedent is being set, then every attempt is made to ensure it is proportionate (i.e the commission yesterday did indeed consider this the apporopriate punishment).
@pedro If they are allowed to play in the Final, then I think the game shouldn’t go ahead on Saturday. To mess Hull City about again at such short notice would be massively unfair. The game should be moved but where or when would be a logistical nightmare.
Out of interest. Here is what the AI Gemini has to comment on it when I asked if it thought the Soton appeal had a chance.....
what is your assessment of the liklihood Soton will be successful
My Assessment: The Odds Are Slim to None
Based on the latest leaks and official statements that have dropped this morning, I have to be completely straight with you: Southampton’s chances of successfully overturning this expulsion are looking exceptionally bleak.
While they have top legal minds on the case, the sheer volume of evidence stacked against them makes this a near-impossible mountain to climb. Here is a breakdown of why their appeal is almost certainly doomed:
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The "Lone Wolf" Defense is Dead: Southampton's initial hopes of pinning this entirely on intern William Salt have evaporated. Damaging internal emails have leaked showing that the spying was a coordinated, systemic operation known to the club's hierarchy.
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Eckert's Admission: Manager Tonda Eckert has reportedly taken full responsibility for ordering the operations. His reported defense—that he thought it was allowed because such practices are more common on the continent—holds absolutely no weight with the EFL. Ignorance of the regulations is never a valid legal defense in sports law.
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A Pattern of Cheating: This wasn't a one-off mistake born out of pre-Wembley desperation. Southampton formally admitted to spying on Oxford United and Ipswich Town earlier in the season. The EFL clearly views this as a calculated, season-long strategy to gain an unfair sporting advantage, rather than a single lapse in judgment.
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The Smoking Gun: The sloppiness of the operation is staggering. Salt used his personal bank card to buy a coffee at the golf club next to Boro's training ground, leaving a literal paper trail. Furthermore, Reddit and news leaks showing Saints staff joking internally about Salt in "camouflage gear" completely destroys any argument that the club acted with "good faith."
The Argument vs. The Reality
Southampton is leaning heavily on the idea that the punishment is historically unprecedented, a sentiment echoed by pundits like Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer who have publicly argued that a massive fine would be more appropriate.
However, the legal reality looks very different:
Ultimately, as an AI analyzing the available data, the independent commission's rationale seems airtight: in a knockout scenario where the prize is a £100m+ Premier League windfall, a simple financial slap on the wrist is meaningless. The punishment has to fit the potential reward.
@powmillnaemore. I will have some of what he is having. CoB. 😎👍🏻
I have copied below part of the statement from the Southampton CEO which I believe misses the point and in comparing their action to Leeds is like comparing apples to pears
“Whereas Leeds United was fined £200,000 for a similar offence, Southampton has been denied the opportunity to compete in a game worth more than £200 million and one which means so much to our staff, players and supporters.”
Leeds were not fined for a similar offence as the “spying” offence did not exist at that time they were fined for unsporting behaviour. If they want to use a precedent then the Swindon situation is more apt and does them no favours.
Southampton have denied themselves, no one else, the opportunity to contest the final through a flagrant and repetitive breach of the rules. 😎
Sky sports news reporting the appeal will be held at 6:00pm this evening. 😎
I like this comment posted by TeeTeeteessider in the EG:
”If anyone is after a pair of binoculars I've just seen there are loads for sale on eBay but most of them seem to be in the south coast area so you'll have to pay for P & P !!”
😂😎
I could not believe the punishment when I read it late last night.
Do I think Southampton will be given a lesser penalty. Yes I do.
I have not bought my Wembley ticket yet. 🤣🤣
What I cannot understand, not being a legal expert, why can the “appeal committee” give a different decision/ punishment, that cannot be appealed.
I can understand cases the go to a highest court, like the Supreme Court’s, but I have not read anywhere that the “appeal committee” are MORE qualified than the original IDC. 🤔
This made me smile... shared by a Spurs fan friend of mine who desperately needs something to smile about the now...
The longer it goes on, the more I believe, I will not be watching on Saturday. ☹️
@forever-dormo Are you going to go to Wembley on Saturday, mate? Or committed to camping for the weekend ....
Up the Boro!