The semi final wasn’t the only time they did it. They admitted at least two other teams they did the same thing. I bet all those fans and players who mimicked the spying when they won last week are feeling pretty stupid now.
It's time now for Man City to gat a massive points deduction for their 115 breaches of the rules. I wonder if Pep knows something and that is why he is on his way out?
The only people who'll benefit from that is the lawyers. Imagine suing for loss of earnings for not getting a job interview because if you had, you might have got the job.
I guess the argument for them is that they have been completely denied the opportunity because of the club's misconduct. They didn't just not get a job interview, they've been excluded from it as a result of the club's actions.
It's a bit odd that they only put their hands up to three games, two that they lost in the league and one where they were caught, but managed to go on a nineteen (?) game run undefeated after Christmas.
This Southampton thing does seem a bit disproportionate even though I agree with it. It is hard to place the penalty it into context with various other punishments.
I think what feels more expected would be to apply a 6 or 9 point deduction to either the Premier or Championship next season and A £3m fine split between the three clubs admitted to.
There is a part of me which sees an angle for future black arts. You find a member of the distant backroom of a club you are playing in a play off final or similar, you get someone to approach and say you come and film us and we will find you, at a later date £300k will be paid into any account you like.
I suspect that might have been the penalty if it wasn't a question of promotion.
But look at how much money they will make by moving up to the Premier League. Compare that to a £3mfine, and you'll be encouraging everyone to take the risk.
It's basically a cup tie and a points penalty is irrelevant. The -4 is for the two league games they've admitted to and it's odd they lost those games in a season where they went on a 19/20 game unbeaten wrong. I believe they,ve been at it more than they have admitted to. Playing an ineligible may have earned a replay. Breaking a cheating rule deserves being thrown out to stop it happening again.
The EFL cannot apply a points deduction to the EPL so that part could only happen if they don’t get promoted which was taken care of by expulsion. A huge fine would not be a big enough deterrent
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I bet all those fans and players who mimicked the spying when they won last week are feeling pretty stupid now.
Think they will be challenging for automatic promotion next season, even with the 4 point deduction.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/southampton-kicked-out-of-championship-playoff-final-docked-four-points-for-spying
Imagine suing for loss of earnings for not getting a job interview because if you had, you might have got the job.
(Though I agree that it's a bit stupid).
On another subject loads of Gooner supporting late shift Tube drivers at Leytonstone asking to swap their days off for next Wednesday
I work earlies and have already booked days off after England games in June
Plan ahead
That just doesn't ring true.
I think what feels more expected would be to apply a 6 or 9 point deduction to either the Premier or Championship next season and A £3m fine split between the three clubs admitted to.
There is a part of me which sees an angle for future black arts. You find a member of the distant backroom of a club you are playing in a play off final or similar, you get someone to approach and say you come and film us and we will find you, at a later date £300k will be paid into any account you like.
But look at how much money they will make by moving up to the Premier League. Compare that to a £3mfine, and you'll be encouraging everyone to take the risk.
Playing an ineligible may have earned a replay. Breaking a cheating rule deserves being thrown out to stop it happening again.
A huge fine would not be a big enough deterrent
Have they never heard of drones???
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