Championship 2025/26 Season

[Manwell Pablo]

1 hour ago, richardsfoxes said:

I think i've got the minority view of the punishment doesn't really fit the crime, especially when you consider that Chelsea only got fined after winning x amount of cups/prems with players that they shouldn't of even signed. Regardless I think the EFL have opened a massive can of worms here, what if Borough win the final now, Hull going to sue EFL? Southampton? What if clubs are now checking their CCTV and find more evidence that they've done it more than what they have said, more deductions? More law suits?. Man City and the premier league must be watching this play out and both be shitting it, as if they are found guity they are gonna be sued for loss of earnings from everyone, trophies will be given to other clubs as they EFL have made a decision now they can't undo which is taking something won off a club and giving it to another because of cheating. 

Ok, allow to break down the three separate types of offence as a lot of people seem to be saying everyone cheats Chelsea this Man City that blah blah. 
 

Players simulating, the laws of the game state this is punishable by a yellow card given by the match referee, not throwing a team out of a competition, completely lazy and moot point which no one with a brain is going to take seriously. 
 

Chelsea imo, should have got a points deduction, however it is a considered business rule breach, which Chelsea actually reported themselves under new ownership after Roman left and cooperated fully, and it’s very difficult to link the payments to agents being a deciding factor in the players in question going to Chelsea. The most clear factor in that players decision will nearly always be which club offered the biggest pay check not who’s paying their agent the biggest fee. At the time, not hard to imagine that being Chelsea. But, the bottom line is just because Chelsea situation wasn’t dealt with correctly doesn’t mean we should then going forwards let everyone off lightly does it. It’s about time penalties actually constituted a deterrent instead of being throw away fines that barely effect the offending club and hopefully this is the start of setting a precedent. The people complaining it’s too harsh are funnily enough the same ones saying other cases weren’t dealt with properly. 
 

Manchester City are still in court and people should really reframe from casting judgement on that case until it’s resolved. 
 

What Southampton have been found guilty of is altering the level playing and gaining an unfair advantage Middlesbrough did not have in one fixture, knowingly breaking a very clearly stated rule in the process, once you have done that, you are more than likely going to lose that fixture. Doesn’t matter if it’s the 2bd round of the EFL trophy or a play off final. 
 

It’s an absolute win for English football that more importantly than anything else will stop this happening again. 
 

The result of Middlesbrough going through isn’t anywhere as near as messy as people are making out, Wrexham and Millwall can kick off all they want the footballing protocol in this case is clear, Boro go through like any other case like this in the past. 

 

 

[Manwell Pablo]

15 minutes ago, jammie82uk said:

But not all charges was for the knockout competition, obviously we don’t know for certain yet but the fact that Southampton went on a 20 game unbeaten run between two of the confirmed spying incidents certainly raises a few questions 

And they’ve been docked four points for those. 
 

You could take them off this season if you wanted, and what would happen? They’d be playing Middlesbrough in the play offs, so no different outcome. better they come off next season. 
 

Just people trying to take a slightly complicated situation and use it their own end. The correct outcome is the one the EFL have come up with. 
 

 

[Manwell Pablo]

23 hours ago, moore_94 said:

Expect to see Eckert get a ban as well then

 

Eckert could now face charges, too. The FA was not commenting on possible action last night but there is precedent in football. At the 2024 Olympic Games, Canada used a drone to spy on New Zealand, their upcoming opponents in the women’s football. In that case, Canada lost six points, while their coach, Bev Priestman, along with analyst Joseph Lombardi and assistant coach Jasmine Mander, were handed a one-year ban from football by FIFA.

This funnily enough is the closest example and most clear precedent set for an offence like this. 

[urban.spaceman]

1 hour ago, Rusko187 said:

Personally I'm finding this bloody hilarious, it's like they've thrown a cat amongst the pigeons.

 

Southampton were right to be booted out, no sympathy there.. only a marginal amount to the fans but personally I can't stand Southampton so bloody good.

As for Hull and Middlesbrough, there's absolutely no way this is going to end well.. If Hull win, M'Boro will cite lack of time to prepare for the game etc. If M'Boro win, Hull will cite last minute change of team in the final. Either way it's going to be an exciting summer of fallout from this.. and I'm here for the fireworks HAHAHAHA.

[21st Century Fox]

The victim mentality over on SaintsWeb is glorious. Apparently it was the Mainstream Media and Steve Gibson that has caused all this! Hull have to win this now because Boro v Saints next season is going to be hilarious. The stick they're going to get from opposition supporters is going to be absolute box office, I hope this never fades and they get it relentlessly all season.

Edited 21 May by 21st Century Fox

[Pita]

The FA have hammered Southampton but are to scared to tackle Manchester City 

[CrispinLA in Texas]

When Biesla did the spying on opposition teams training when he managed Leeds, Leeds got a fine (I think). Maybe because he was considered a grandee of football management. Tonda is a up and coming young manager so the authorities bring the full force on Southampton.

[Samilktray]

Just now, CrispinLA in Texas said:

When Biesla did the spying on opposition teams training when he managed Leeds, Leeds got a fine (I think). Maybe because he was considered a grandee of football management. Tonda is a up and coming young manager so the authorities bring the full force on Southampton.

Thats just simply not true is it 

[filbertway]

8 minutes ago, Pita said:

The FA have hammered Southampton but are to scared to tackle Manchester City 

The EFL have hammered Southampton. Not the FA

[ramboacdc]

5 minutes ago, CrispinLA in Texas said:

When Biesla did the spying on opposition teams training when he managed Leeds, Leeds got a fine (I think). Maybe because he was considered a grandee of football management. Tonda is a up and coming young manager so the authorities bring the full force on Southampton.

There wasn't a rule against it when Leeds did it. They got a fine and the rule was then made to prevent it. Southampton are the first to break the rule and any punishment that isn't the kitchen sink thrown at them is unacceptable. If it's a £3m fine for example and they win promotion, they still profit from it. They can't put a points deduction in the premier league in since we went down the route of proving you can't be ruled by a ruling in the Prem in the Championship and vice versa. 

No one will be doing it again that's for sure. Fallout will be mental, but if they had won that final it would have been absolute chaos. 

[Les-TA-Jon]

28 minutes ago, Pita said:

The FA have hammered Southampton but are to scared to tackle Manchester City 

This forum is littered with whataboutery posts that seem to think the FA, PL and EFL are all the same organisation with the same powers and jurisdiction... 

Edited 21 May by Les-TA-Jon

[ian__marshall]

The only way to settle this is to promote the top 2, relegate 2 from the PL this season, scrap relegations and promotions between Championship and League 1 this season, then promote 4 from Championship next season whilst relegating 4 from the PL, promote 5 from League 1 with Lincoln and Cardiff guaranteed automatic promotion next season, and have 5 teams relegated from the Championship. Simple! 🤣😂🤣 

Edited 21 May by ian__marshall

[FrankieADZ]

still boggling how chelsea only got what a 10mil fine for all the sporting advantages they got over a number of years for the agent payments

 

something massively wrong with the game when Southampton get the punishment they did(the correct one imo) and chelsea get off so lightly, 

its incredibly easy to see why so many people are falling out of love with football at the top level

[AKCJ]

It's important that the FA investigate this properly.

 

Anyone with knowledge of this happening in a senior position should be sacked and banned.

 

I do not believe that only the manager and the intern knew about it. There will be a lot of people with knowledge of it and also lots who probably encouraged it.

[Product of 84]

14 hours ago, Adster said:

always one person who bangs on about the 115 charges. 

 

Completely separate ball game, no comparisons whatsoever. It's a silly comparison. 

Not when the charges were announced in 2023 and it still hasn't been resolved. I don't think it is silly to compare the speed of action at all. In fact I think the whole football world should be demanding an outcome to this issue as it has possibly affected several clubs. 

[Product of 84]

30 minutes ago, FrankieADZ said:

still boggling how chelsea only got what a 10mil fine for all the sporting advantages they got over a number of years for the agent payments

 

something massively wrong with the game when Southampton get the punishment they did(the correct one imo) and chelsea get off so lightly, 

its incredibly easy to see why so many people are falling out of love with football at the top level

It really doesn't dispel the idea that certain clubs are treated differently to the rest of the league

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Erm can I just say one word please?

 

115 charges.

[Samilktray]

When do we expect the EFL to come to a verdict on Manchester City’s  115 charges? 

[jammie82uk]

1 hour ago, filbertway said:

The EFL have hammered Southampton. Not the FA

The independent commission have hammered Southampton. Not the EFL or the FA

[David Hankey]

We all want to know why the authorities won't tackle the so-called big clubs over their misdemeanour but this cloud the issue of what Southampton did.

 

They deserve all they get and whoever was responsible in sending the guy out to spy should also be severely dealt with.

[Manwell Pablo]

2 hours ago, CrispinLA in Texas said:

When Biesla did the spying on opposition teams training when he managed Leeds, Leeds got a fine (I think). Maybe because he was considered a grandee of football management. Tonda is a up and coming young manager so the authorities bring the full force on Southampton.

Or maybe because there wasn’t a direct law against it when he did it and the EFL bought it in after this incident. 
 

I dunno what’s more worrying the amount of absolute nonsense being spouted by people who don’t have the first clue what they are talking about or the amount of likes they are getting in agreement. 

[Chelmofox]

3 hours ago, Manwell Pablo said:

Chelsea imo, should have got a points deduction, however it is a considered business rule breach, which Chelsea actually reported themselves under new ownership after Roman left and cooperated fully, and it’s very difficult to link the payments to agents being a deciding factor in the players in question going to Chelsea. The most clear factor in that players decision will nearly always be which club offered the biggest pay check not who’s paying their agent the biggest fee. At the time, not hard to imagine that being Chelsea. But, the bottom line is just because Chelsea situation wasn’t dealt with correctly doesn’t mean we should then going forwards let everyone off lightly does it. It’s about time penalties actually constituted a deterrent instead of being throw away fines that barely effect the offending club and hopefully this is the start of setting a precedent. The people complaining it’s too harsh are funnily enough the same ones saying other cases weren’t dealt with properly. 

Its because Chelsea should have got a points deduction, but didn't, screams why people get so frustrated about how the different laws are dealt with. I think its very fair to point back to this - as it highlights favoritism where certain clubs seem to be able to get away with it. Certainly doesnt mean that we should not deal with things properly moving forward - although do you have faith next time it happens to Chelsea that they will deal with it properly? I don't.

 

3 hours ago, Manwell Pablo said:

Manchester City are still in court and people should really reframe from casting judgement on that case until it’s resolved.

In process for sure, but in the meantime Man City continue to win trophies and spend huge amounts of money (and make money from those assets).  Pep is going to leave, having been able to spend his whole career there benefiting from it. I get bored of hearing about it too, but again, its fair to point out. Part of me still thinks if this was a 'lesser' club that they would have been put under some sort of embargo somehow/where.

[jammie82uk]

3 hours ago, Manwell Pablo said:

And they’ve been docked four points for those. 
 

You could take them off this season if you wanted, and what would happen? They’d be playing Middlesbrough in the play offs, so no different outcome. better they come off next season. 
 

Just people trying to take a slightly complicated situation and use it their own end. The correct outcome is the one the EFL have come up with. 
 

 

I understand that, my point was more towards that are we going to believe they only did it 3 times? And that the 20 game unbeaten run is a complete coincidence that it happened between the 1st time they spied on an opponent and the 2nd time they spied on an opponent

[Manwell Pablo]

2 minutes ago, jammie82uk said:

I understand that, my point was more towards that are we going to believe they only did it 3 times? And that the 20 game unbeaten run is a complete coincidence that it happened between the 1st time they spied on an opponent and the 2nd time they spied on an opponent

It doesn’t matter what we believe what matters is what they are charged with, you can’t act on assumptions which leaves Wrexhams case dead in the water. 
 

If they were charged with more, especially specifically Wrexham, then that’s a different story. But they haven’t been. 

[Leicesterpool]

1 hour ago, Samilktray said:

When do we expect the EFL to come to a verdict on Manchester City’s  115 charges? 

Not in our lifetime same as Chelsea's various dodgy deals. Its too hot for them to handle.