EFL tear into Southampton's 'contrived and determined plan' as full Spygate verdict released

Southampton has been expelled from the Championship play-off final following the Spygate saga -Credit:Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images The EFL has released a scathing assessment of Southampton's conduct during the Spygate controversy, with Saints manager Tonda Eckert found to have sanctioned a "contrived and determined plan" to violate league regulations and secure an unfair advantage ahead of the clubs' play-off semi-final. The Independent Disciplinary Commission that presided over Southampton's breaches of EFL rules has published its full written findings behind the decision to remove the Saints from the play-offs following their "deplorable" behavior. Eckert's side were ejected from the competition prior to their final against Hull City and handed a four-point deduction for next season after admitting to spying on Middlesbrough, alongside two other clubs this season.

It has since come to light that Southampton have additionally been reprimanded for forcing a junior staff member to carry out the spying operation. The staff member is said to have been pressured into the act despite personally considering it to be 'morally wrong,' as per The Mirror . DR Congo expected to receive U.

S. Travel Exemption for 2026 World Cup despite Ebola Outbreak Clint Dempsey warns of World Cup ‘nightmare’ scenario for USMNT as legend makes prediction The individual sent to spy on Middlesbrough, William Salt (center back), was supposedly 'put under pressure' to carry out the plan -Credit:Southampton FC Within its determination, the commission outlined the reasoning behind Saints being removed from the play-off final. Notably, the prize on offer for succeeding in the play-offs played a significant role and convinced the panel that a sporting sanction was necessary.

It was concluded that a points deduction during the regular season could lead clubs to view such violations as 'a risk worth taking,' while a financial penalty would carry little weight given the enormous riches available for Premier League promotion. The commission observed that: "We have concluded that there was, on the part of the Respondent [Southampton], a contrived and determined plan from the top down to gain a competitive advantage in competitions of real significance by deliberate attendance at opposition training grounds for the purpose of obtaining tactical and selection information. "It involved far more than innocent activity and a particularly deplorable approach in its use of junior members of staff to conduct the clandestine observations and analysis of footage and observations.