| This Saints spying thing 11:51 - May 12 with 5262 views | bluefunk |
Looks like it’s a real headache for the EFL and the disciplinary commitee, Southampton have asked for more time, which is exactly what the authorities don’t have.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/fo
It won’t be the first time they’ve done this, maybe explains their successful rise up the table. Middlesbrough apparently want sporting sanctions rather than a fine, (but then they would wouldn’t they). |  | | |  |
| This Saints spying thing on 06:39 - May 13 with 180 views | LegendofthePhoenix |
| This Saints spying thing on 06:31 - May 13 by Blue_Heath |
Boro should go to Wembley and Saints not but as you say will never happen.
Saints will go up and avoid any sanction due to being in a different league. |
The football regulator needs to ensure that there is continuity of sanctions, so that any penalties for misdemeanours in one league are carried through to another league if the guilty team are promoted or relegated. |  |
| |
| This Saints spying thing on 07:25 - May 13 with 89 views | StokieBlue |
| This Saints spying thing on 06:31 - May 13 by Blue_Heath |
Boro should go to Wembley and Saints not but as you say will never happen.
Saints will go up and avoid any sanction due to being in a different league. |
Pretty sure this is no longer the case, they agreed at the start of this season too implement sanctions applied by each other after the original Leicester debacle.
SB |  |
| Avatar - M101 - Pinwheel Galaxy |
| |
| This Saints spying thing on 08:02 - May 13 with 45 views | Churchman |
| This Saints spying thing on 19:18 - May 12 by Bellevue_Blue |
Because if the EFL get it wrong, they risk a law suit that could borderline bankrupt the governing body.
And without any precedent, Southampton could legally argue a whole load of things that might create doubt in a court.
I agree it's binary in terms of cheating, but what is not binary is the level of advantage that they received and therefore the benefit they received.
For the EFL to throw them out and it be successfully upheld, you'd have to prove that the advantage Southampton received was so significant that they won the tie based on the information they received (The first leg would prove that is probably not the case) or if new information comes to light, that they did for a sustained period of time that it gave them a considerable advantage in the League.
If the EFL failed to prove that, then Southampton could question the punishment and attach the loss of earnings to that.
IMO the risk is far too large for the EFL without any existing precedent. If Southampton do go up, they'd be better off trying to impose a fine or points deduction so large that it essentially wipes out the benefit of going up. |
The problem with this is that you can cast doubt on the impact of just about any rule when it comes to sport. If Southampton were found guilty yet no punishment is invoked, there are no rules and clubs like Southampton, a big fish in EFL terms, can do as they please.
This is the problem with professional football in this country. Up a level clubs are doing just that, whether it’s West Ham fielding ineligible players to gain advantage (Tevez) or Man City sticking two fingers up at any rules.
The point is that the Championship is not Southampton’s competition. If guilty I’d throw them out of the play offs. If they then threatened legal action I’d threaten them with Football League expulsion. If that collapsed the EFL, could end any non Premier League clubs chance of promotion as I suspect it might give the EPL the chance to create the closed shop they desire. That would exclude Southampton.
This is a doomsday scenario that won’t happen of course, but what It comes down to is who governs the game. |  | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
