The great majority of comments on the BBC piece are highly critical of Southampton, largely along the lines of ‘If you didn’t cheat, you wouldn’t have to take the punishment. So shut up whingeing.’ That was all very encouraging and even entertaining. Let’s hope M’learned friends think the same and dismiss the appeal out of hand.
Btw, have you all read the brilliant article by Craig Johns in today’s EG? He hammers Southampton for their behaviour and blasts the chairman’s statement as playing the victim when they’re actually the perpetrator. Music to my ears.
Btw 2, I’ve got my Wembley ticket and no Soton fan is having my seat.
@clive-hurren I have got mine too, although the link to print the ticket wasn’t included in the confirmation email, I guess they are waiting for the outcome of the appeal first 🤔.
Come on BORO.
Interesting about ticket printing - my daughter is hoping to get ours on the 2pm release tomorrow since i am camping in Barnard Castle now.
Mrs BBD has sanctioned day release from other duties on Saturday!
Just reading that Southampton appeal is being led by Lord Pannick KC, who is the lead for Man City in the EPL case. Pannick is one of the most high-profile and in-demand barristers in England.
I assume it won’t take as long as their decision. How many years now?
My print tickets haven’t arrived yet, either, and nor have those of some friends. I guess you’re right about the appeal.
@pedro - i must admit to being a bit apprehensive right now about the outcome of the appeal.
I am a rollercoaster of feelings having gone from not being that bothered as we didnt deserve it, through ,"well they were effectively kicked out before the semi so we have s bye" to now wanting to see Boro at Wembly again!
Will be upset and angry if it is over turned.
Constantly checking phone and at least a decent signal here.
The whole saga seems to get messier and messier. Boro feel hard done by because they were spied on but are satisfied with the penalty imposed on Southampton. Southampton feel hard done by because they have been thrown out of the playoff final and feel the punishment is not proportionate. Hull feel hard done by because they had been planning to play Southampton and now need to adjust very quickly to playing Boro. They are also exploring whether they have any legal grounds to demand that they are promoted without playing the final because the team they were scheduled to play has been thrown out and they should therefore win by default. Wrexham’s captain has suggested that the playoffs should be restarted from scratch as Southampton should not have been in them in the first place had their spying been known about. Goodness knows what Millwall are making of the whole farce. Call for Brian Rix………..!
Appeal dismissed.
Too right.
Come on Boro.
Appeal dismissed. We’re off to Wembley!
The appeal has been dismissed.
Goodness me you need to be really quick to post breaking news on this forum!!! Great to be going to Wembley and let’s hope it’s Boro that join the EPL. As for the spying saga I fear the ramifications will rumble on for quite a long time.
Boro have a chance of glory and have been vindicated.
Southampton you would expect many heads to roll……….
There is now talk on Sky Sports News about the FA getting involved to punish those involved from the spy to the higher hierarchy involved, so for Southampton it may not be over yet.
Come on BORO.
Btw.... is anyone on the rota for the header against Hull on Saturday?
I am sorry I can't volunteer for this one....
If we’ve got anyone who’s got a 100% record of winning when they write a starter, will they please put their hand up to do the Final please?
If we’ve got anyone who’s got a 100% record of winning when they write a starter, will they please put their hand up to do the Final please?
On balance it's best if I step aside for this one...
Yes, you are right. I didn’t know so I looked it up and he was born in Cottingham which is on the north western edge of Hull.
A statement from the EFL
A League Arbitration Panel has tonight dismissed Southampton Football Club’s appeal against the Independent Disciplinary Commission’s sanction following the admittance of multiple breaches of EFL Regulations.
The determination means that the original sanction of expulsion from the Sky Bet Championship play-offs remains in place, as does the four-point deduction to be applied to the 2026/27 Championship table and the reprimand in respect of all charges.
The club submitted its appeal following yesterday’s decision of the Independent Disciplinary Commission in respect of breaches of EFL Regulations. As per EFL Regulations, the decision of the League Arbitration Panel is final and cannot be appealed.
Following the conclusion of the proceedings, the Sky Bet Championship play-off Final between Hull City and Middlesbrough is confirmed as taking place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 23 May, kicking off at 3.30pm.
The League Arbitration Panel’s written reasons will be published in due course along with the Independent Disciplinary Commission’s full decision.
A statement from Southampton
"An extremely disappointing outcome"
A statement from Diasboro
Yesssssssssssssss!
@powmillnaemore - unless anyone has been prepping in advance then it is quite a tough ask.
Maybe if Weder starts a new thread we can all contribute a bit although with people in Alaska and others typing very slowly on his mobile from a camp dite it will be interesting!
Unfortunately, I'm extremely busy as we've got guests arriving tomorrow for a 7-day visit and I'm just heading off to bed shortly after a very long day and will be completely tied up the next 2 days with trips out and about.
Thankfully, I've successfully appealed to Mrs Werder not to plan anything on Saturday afternoon 🙂
Yes, it could get very messy for the Sinners. There’s already talk of their players taking the club to court because of potentially missing out on their promotion bonus - a mere £250K each allegedly - but I doubt that’ll get far as they would have had to win the playoffs first! Nonetheless, there are said to be some seriously dischuffed guys in their dressing room. Perhaps they’ll now lose some of their stars. And Azaz still isn’t with a Premier League club……..
Then, when the FA gets involved, there‘ll probably be firm action taken against those involved. Will Eckert be suspended or lose his job outright? Will the club sack him? Will they sack poor scapegoat Will Salt? And what about those further up the hierarchy? How much did they know? Will they accept responsibility?
Sinners fans are already very unhappy, obviously, not just because they’ve shelled out money to go to Wembley and have missed out on a return to the Prem, but also at the serious damage to the club’s reputation. One fan on BBC News said they’re now a laughing stock. And I imagine a chant of ‘Cheats, cheats, cheats!’ might ring around Championship grounds next season, and whenever the players get off their team coach at away games.
I hope they go into a period of decline now and suffer all sorts of indignities as a result of their disgusting, outrageous behaviour. You got what you deserve, Sinners.
I’ll knock up a very quick starter for Hull, but I can’t promise quality and I may not get it posted till late Thursday evening.
- @werdermouth - appreciate thay - all i meant was a new topic which we can add to - or can we do that ourselves?
Apologies i didnt mean for you to do the stsrter!
EXMIL CHALLENGE 2026 - Amendment to the Playoff Final
Everything else remains the same but delete Southampton insert Boro 
Reminder of deadline for werdermouth and Selwynoz which is 1200hrs on Saturday 23 May 26.
Come on BORO.
Yes Alaska cruise out of Vancouver temperature was about 9 degrees today and wet. The tv on board has ESPN and on their Soccer panel show yesterday they discussed the expulsion and showed images of the front and back pages of yesterday’s Gazette . All of the panel, Shaka Hislop, Steve Nichol and Don Hutchinson thought that it was the correct verdict. Nicol described Southampton as moronic for doing it. I do see that the Hull owner is now talking about legal action if they are not promoted
All the talk of the playing Sinners being unhappy and considering taking action against their emoloyers?......
Good luck with that then, when they apparently were shown footage taken of the opposition in training, but clearly did nithing to try and stop the practice or warn the boss.
Complicit is what I think defines that.
Awoke this morning and pleased to learn that justice had prevailed! 😊😎
A couple of first have to happen on Saturday if we are to get to the Premier League. 1 we have to win a game at Wembley and 2 Hull have to lose their first play off final.
A posted comment from the EG:
Ten-past_one
Lions and Tigers, no Cheetahs......oh my?
😂😎