Joe Phillips

@marklovegrove @henrywinter The efl classes the playoffs as a separate knockout competition, so the expulsion part would apply to knockout competitions

@henrywinter Only thing that I don't like about the punishment is how do you repeat the punishment to other guilty clubs? Not every club that could potentially be guilty of spying would be in a play off final

Anyone with any knowledge of English football history will know that it is ridiculous for Southampton’s chief executive, Phil Parsons, to claim that their expulsion from the Championship play-offs is a bigger punishment than the 30-point deduction imposed on Luton Town in 2008 which led to relegation and almost throttled the life out of the club. Absolutely no comparison and completely weakens Southampton’s attempted argument that being thrown out of the play-offs is “manifestly disproportionate to every previous sanction in the history of the English game”. There is some good stuff in Parsons’ statement: accepting culpability for Spygate, apologising to those clubs they spied on and apologising to their fans “whose extraordinary loyalty and support this season deserved better from the club”. Well said. But… the rules changed since Leeds United’s “similar offence” in 2019, there is no right to the £200m (it’s not a fine), and to play the whataboutery game and make the comparison with the Hatters is, fittingly, mad. Southampton’s reputation is certainly damaged but at least their very existence is not at risk. #SaintsFC #LTFC

@maybebrayyy There is a lot of precedent that the team knocked out by the cheats get reinstated, see luton v swindon

Really they should have just promoted Hull, but they will absolutely never do it, since the play-off final is the most watched game of the championship every year

@ashersfc @JamesLeafe1 @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis If a team cheats in a knockout competition what should the punishment be? This is a sporting offence so needs a sporting punishment in the competition it took place which is the playoffs I can tell you the precedent is expulsion

@JamesLeafe1 @Safcjcp95 @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis 4 points for 2 games in a league season doesn’t match up to being kicked out of the play offs? Why is the punishment soo different?

A statement from Phil Parsons, Chief Executive, Southampton Football Club.

@ashersfc @JamesLeafe1 @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis A points deduction for cheating in a knockout competition, has that ever happened in English football?

@JamesLeafe1 @Safcjcp95 @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis There isn’t a set punishment. Why can’t it be points and fine? If expulsion was in place beforehand then you can have no complaints. I’m more annoyed we got caught 😂 Scumhampton 😂😂 everyone hates us 😂

@trendy_wi777ard @slbsn No, there are 3 that they have admitted, they've been doing it since he took over, their players have talked about how much of an advantage it is knowing what the opposition are going to do

@Safcjcp95 @slbsn Supposedly only 3 occurrences of spying and they won none of the respective games.

🚨Hull's promotion straight to the Premier League is not absurd. Are Middlesbrough already out of the Play Off Competition? I guess the theory goes like this. The Southampton v Middlesbrough game has not been awarded to Boro rather that after the event, Southampton have been expelled. So Hull say that all other teams in this distinct Play Off Competition are already out - Southampton expelled with Boro and Milwall knocked out. Unfortunately, therefore, Hull say, they have nobody to play. A number of Boro fans did suggest their own statement did not state Boro should go through, just that Southampton shouldn't. Of course, that was nonsense and Boro pushed for the place. In the Swindon EFL case, although the Commission did not expressly award the place in the EFL Trophy Quarter Final to Luton, the EFL did so. So a Hull v Boro final replicates that approach. I don't think Hull would be able to get a Commission established in time to hear the case or that a Commission would award them a bye but it is not completely impossible. There is an obvious argument that Boro have already (and finally) been knocked out regardless of the retrospective punishment to Southampton. This is not a case where the Commission gave Middlesbrough a 3-0 first leg win - they simply expelled Southampton. But in 2026, who knows... 🍿

@ashersfc @JamesLeafe1 @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis The precedent of teams who break the rules in knockout competitions get kicked out and their opponents reinstated, the most recent example is Luton after Swindon broke the rules

@Safcjcp95 @JamesLeafe1 @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis What precedent had been set? Its only happened once before and Leeds basically got a slap on the wrist and it was all a joke in the end.

@Joe__Monty Southampton need that hour to spy

So Hull play Boro at 3:30pm and then in Royal Rumble style fashion, Southampton enter the pitch at 4:30pm and turns into a triple Threat match

@Fisherking79 @Roger_Wilco93 @JacobsBen Swindon went through against Luton and then got expelled, Luton won the cup

@Roger_Wilco93 @JacobsBen To be honest they should go through. Southampton eliminated Middlesbrough and then got expelled.

🚨 Exclusive: Hull City are consulting lawyers to see if they have a case to be promoted straight to the Premier League after Southampton (subject to an appeal) were expelled from the Championship playoffs. Hull are unhappy at the prospect of facing Middlesbrough at Wembley having spent over a week preparing to play Southampton. Saints appeal is this evening and they will argue the punishment is too harsh. Hull's players had a pre-planned day off today and will return tomorrow with either two days to prepare for Boro, or potentially learn the final is against Southampton again. Hull are leaving legal avenues open, including the prospect of a challenge after the final.🐯 🤝 @alex_crook

@RiochsBabes Can you share the precedent of someone breaking rule 127?

Here's my prediction for today. Legal beagles argue precedent set before with fine. Expulsion too harsh. Southampton reinstated. Not something I agree with but I bet that's what happens.

@all_wednesday @SxndoFC @HullCity The only reason the punishment is unfair is that its not harsh enough, southampton cheated to move from a relegation battle to a promotion fight

@SxndoFC @HullCity There’s no fair outcome in this situation. I have a feeling Southampton get reinstated to the play offs tonight as well

Our play-off final against Middlesbrough at Wembley on Saturday 23 May will now kick-off at 3:30pm. Should the outcome of the ongoing appeal process result in Southampton contesting the final against the Tigers, kick-off will revert to 4:30pm. Supporters who have successfully purchased tickets will receive their digital match tickets once the club are permitted to send. The club remains in regular dialogue with all relevant stakeholders and will communicate further details, including ticket release and Tiger Travel information, once final confirmation of the fixture has been received. We would like to thank our supporters for their continued understanding and patience. We cannot wait to see a sea of black and amber under the arch this weekend. #hcafc

@shanehagan24 @gimble123 @Barbsmfc86 @slbsn So the efl should ignore years of precedent which says boro get reinstated to promote hull?

@gimble123 @Barbsmfc86 @slbsn Hull should be going up, no other team has earned the right to be in the final without Southampton, should as everyone expects, Southampton definitely be kicked out after todays hearing

@trendy_wi777ard @slbsn It was not wrong, the punishment was not harsh enough the cheating moved them from a relegation battle to fighting for promotion

@slbsn Expelling Southampton was wrong. Far too severe a punishment. Should have let them play and fined them heavily with a points deduction regardless of match outcome. City aren’t getting expelled are they. They will be handed a huge points deduction.

@PUSB_Mike If any club knows of cheating its coventry

Coventry fan I come in peace: Dislike Southampton but my view is that #Boro are now the real cheats after grassing and sucking up to the EFL. No one likes a grass, lowest of the low ✊🏼 Hope Hull do them #SaintsFC

@JamesLeafe1 @ashersfc @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis Its not, this decision is in line with precedent set and followed even this season

@Safcjcp95 @ashersfc @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis So how is that different to Boro being put in the final???

@KatHerridge @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis Years of precedent says otherwise, can you show any precedent for what you believe should happen?

@glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis Boro shouldn’t have a shot. They weren’t good enough to get through to the final. If the point is to remove Southampton then the only fair thing to do is to either promote Hull immediately or redo the semi finals with Wrexham taking saints place. Boro shouldn’t get a free pass

@stephenasm64 @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis Is years of precedent not enough?

@glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis Hull should just be promoted why should boro have another bite of the cherry you played 2 play off games and cudnt win one millwall finished 3rd they have a bigger right to play hill than boro

@oachkatzl258770 @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis So cheat and gain £195m seems worth it

@glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis I’d go for a 12-point deduction (PL or Championship) + £5m fine, but still let them play the final. Win it and you likely go straight back down next season anyway; lose it and promotion becomes very unlikely and expensive either way.

@AcabUtv @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis 1. If it had no impact why do it? 2. Southampton players have talked about how easy the game is when they knew exactly what the opposition would be doing

@glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis Would have had absolutely no affect to the game cry baby’s like you should definitely not be “awarded” a win it’s ridiculous and hopefully will be overturned.

@JamesLeafe1 @ashersfc @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis Precedent would be hull promoted

@ashersfc @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis If they had not been caught, then went on to beat Hull, and it turned out after they had spied on all three matches, what then?

@ashersfc @glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis Your players have spoken of how much of an advantage knowing what the opposition would be doing is all the way back in December, we know how they knew now

@glenn_coin @SouthamptonFC @Boropolis Boro denied themselves by losing the tie. Spying as bad as it seems had absolutely no impact on that semi final and everyone who watched the games will be lying if they said any different. It was a stupid thing to do but in no way does it deserve this punishment.