Jason Speck

@leedsunited191 @NorthamScott Southampton supporters are desperate. It was revealed that their employee bought a cup of coffee using his personal credit card at Gibson’s hotel next to the training ground. The poor loves think this is a GDPR breach.

@NorthamScott What is the GDPR breach, I’m confused? Why would Southampton make a claim on the behalf of an individual?

Starting to look like we’ll have a good legal case against Boro’ for breaches of GDPR and Defamation. 👍🏻

@MuirdenDaniel @SaintRob__ Boro made a request to present evidence and it was turned down. Unlike you, we haven’t broken any rules.

@MrTeesside @SaintRob__ Protocol is that the EFL presents evidence. Boro should be no where near it. Trying to force that line is a breach of EFL rules.

Clearly this isn’t going the way they want. What a pathetic statement.

@Rub3n01 Southampton’s behaviour has been appalling. Not sure how Boro have done anything apart from catch the cheat and show displeasure that your club attempted to cheat.

We've painted ourselves in such a bad light these last few weeks as a club. But boro have also not come out of this looking good at all #Saintsfc #Boro

@AllenForSur3 The person observing our training was clearly cheating. What else was he meant to call it?

Could we see the possibility of Tonda and the club suing Hellberg/Boro? 🤔 This is 100% defamation of character and definitely not acting in good faith 😬 I wouldn’t want to be Hellberg when Solak’s lawyers get involved he’s gonna get fleeced 😂 #saintsfc #boro

@marz194_2 Get a grip. You got caught cheating.

Throwing #SaintsFC out of the playoff final would disproportionately hurt far too many innocent stakeholders than anyone directly involved. For Middlesbrough to make a public statement as such, while proceedings are now underway, surely prejudices the jury and is unacceptable.

@JoshR1988 Cheating isn’t very decent

Boro could have refused to play 1st leg. Boro could have refused to play 2nd leg. Now they cry about it by releasing that pathetic statement. They were also the ones to leak the pic & name. What we did was wrong, but Boro have shown less decency. #Saintsfc #Boro

@gregvul You absolute wet wipe

If #saintsfc get handed a sporting sanction I wonder if they will not only appeal the decision but also try to take legal action against Boro for their attempts to influence the outcome? No one denies we did wrong but the way Boro has used the media is a scandal in its own right

@SaintsDanSFC You hate us because you got caught cheating against us? Not sure I follow….

I'm very slowly starting to hate Middlesbrough FC on the same level as I hate Portsmouth Football Club. #SaintsFC

@EarleySaint1885 @SkySportsNews @Boro No it doesn’t say that at all. Boro presented evidence that Southampton broke a rule. It’s not very complicated.

@MrTeesside @SkySportsNews @Boro I don't think anyone has said the rule wasn't broken but it is hardly high level spy work. The information gained would be trivial. Boro are absolutely making a meal of it. Their statement basically says we do not want to follow the rules. Exactly what Saints did....broke a rule.

BREAKING: Middlesbrough say Southampton should not take part in Championship play-off final after being charged with spying ahead of semi-final first leg between clubs.

@MuirdenDaniel @SaintRob__ Boro didn’t try to be judge or jury. Southampton broke an EFL rule so it should be EFL v Southampton and that’s exactly what it will be. Boro asked to present evidence but instead it will be presented by the EFL. Boro haven’t broken any rules.

@MrTeesside @SaintRob__ I’ve not said that it was or wasn’t. I’m saying that Boro don’t get a seat as judge, jury or executioner, which is what they want. Boro want to impact the process beyond submiting their evidence, and that’s against the rules.

@MuirdenDaniel @SaintRob__ The charge is that Southampton “directly or indirectly observed or attempted to observe an opponent's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match.” Do you really think that rule wasn’t broken? Seriously?

@SaintRob__ It’s clear Boro want to unduely affect the legal and proper process. By pushing to be involved they’re attempting to circumvent the rules and cheat. Should have the book thrown at them….

@SaintRob__ The charge is that you “directly or indirectly observed or attempted to observe an opponent's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match.” Do you really think that rule wasn’t broken? Seriously?

@EarleySaint1885 @SkySportsNews @Boro He’s not a kid, I believe he’s 27 years old. The rule “prohibits clubs from directly or indirectly observing or attempting to observe an opponent's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match.” Do you really think that rule wasn’t broken?

@MrTeesside @SkySportsNews @Boro They over dramatised every element of it. They made it sound like Mi5 showed up....it was a kid with an iphone. 150 - 200 yards from the pitch....not sure you can record sounds from that far....

@ludacristsake @SkySportsNews You were a decent club but your lack of humility over your behaviour is embarrassing.

@SkySportsNews Glad the tide is turning in favour of us. We are a decent club and this is definitely not in our DNA.

@Ltrs_Frm_Across @SkySportsNews I think you are missing the point. There’s a rule in place and it was broken. It’s really not difficult to understand.

@SkySportsNews Middlesborough are overplaying their hand. The alleged spying didn't have any material influence on the matches. Southampton won across the two legs; Boro never played to their potential or took their chances. Gibson is rapidly losing any sympathy they had with general fans.

@UpTheVillaLad @SkySportsNews Are we just happy to accept rule breaking and attempted cheating?

Come on! How much did the spying genuinely benefit them? Yeah it shouldn’t have happened, is against the rules, cheating whatever … plenty of cheating goes on, on the pitch too but you don’t just give the game to the opponent. Southampton are through to the final, Boro aren’t. Simple as, get over it, end of!

@EarleySaint1885 @SkySportsNews @Boro Do you mean the photo of a Southampton analyst recording Boro’s training session 2 days before the match?

@SkySportsNews This is beyond acceptable now from @Boro. Leaking false information to the media. GDPR infringements and now Public Statements because they are not invited to something which is due process. A fine given what actually happened is a fair penalty. Boro's behaviour is ridiculous.

@EarleySaint1885 @SkySportsNews @Boro What false information?

@MrProcter @henrywinter You don’t really understand this do you? The EFL have rules and Southampton broke those rules. The only issue now is what the penalty will be.

@henrywinter Can't see what Southampton did wrong. Boro* trained in full view of a public place - it's on them. Only mistake the 'spy' made was to not film as furtively as they might have.

TBC. Denotes doubts. But a decision has to be made soon. Do Boro stay in training? Do fans of Southampton make plans? Who do Hull City prepare for? Can’t delay too long: Harry Styles booked Wembley for 12 nights. Sign of the times.

@HcafcW97504 @SkySportsNews I agree. Only 1 team has done something wrong and it isn’t Boro.

@SkySportsNews We are preparing for a final where we dk who we are playing. Meanwhile both Southampton and Boro both know that whoever actually plays in the final they will play Hull. Seems like we will be at a massive disadvantage considering we haven’t actually done anything wrong #hcafc

BREAKING: EFL confirm hearing into spying allegation involving Southampton will take place on or before Tuesday with Championship play-off final to take place as planned on May 23rd.