Harry Redknapp reacts to 'crazy' Southampton Spygate scandal | OneFootball

The former Saints boss has been left shocked by the breaking developments ahead of Saturday's play-off final

The Championship play-offs and drama are two things which often go hand in hand, only in the 40th anniversary year of the post-season promotion lottery, events off the field have dominated headlines.

After Coventry City and Ipswich Town were automatically promoted to the Premier League, one of Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough and Hull City would join the West Midlands and East Anglian outfits in next season's top-flight should they advance in the semi-finals and then emerge victorious in club football's richest game at Wembley Stadium.

Hull, after dramatically returning to the top six with 23 minutes to go on the final day of the regular Championship season, did their bit by defeating the Lions 2-0 over two legs, with the decisive victory coming at The Den on May 11th.

However, even before Saints and Boro faced off at the Riverside Stadium in leg one, Tonda Eckert's men were charged with an alleged breach of EFL regulations after being accused of unauthorised filming of a training session from Kim Hellberg's side within a 72-hour timespan ahead of kick-off.

Ultimately, the South Coast side went on to win 2-1 over two fiercely contested semi-finals as a result, with Eckert and Hellberg showcasing mixed emotions in their post-match press conferences.

However, amid initial jeopardy over a 'planned' 4:30PM kick-off between Hull and Saints this Saturday, with thousands of tickets snapped up, the result of an independent disciplinary commission has seen Saints expelled from the competition, as well as a four-point deduction for 2026/27 after admitting to multiple breaches, with the Teesside outfit reinstated for the final against the Tigers.

Unsurprisingly, such a decision, albeit Saints have the right to appeal, which could further the process, has left many in shock, including former St Mary's boss, Harry Redknapp.

Harry Redknapp labels Southampton spygate scandal "crazy"

The 79-year-old, of course, made a controversial move of his own to the Hampshire club in December 2004 from bitter rivals Portsmouth, before overseeing a relegation to the Championship months later and subsequently returning to Fratton Park after just 12 months in charge of Saints.

As well as admitting to unauthorised filming of Middlesbrough's pre-semi-final sessions, the club also admitted to the same breaches ahead of matches with Oxford United and Ipswich Town in December 2025 and April 2026.

It has been widely reported that Eckert is potentially set to face his own sanctions from the Football Association, whilst plenty of former players and staff associated with Saints have had their say on the matter.

Speaking to BBC Radio Solent, Redknapp, who won the play-offs 12 years ago with Queens Park Rangers, said: "I think it's very harsh, I didn't see that coming - I thought they would get a heavy fine.

"What they have done] is so stupid it's beyond belief. What are you learning by someone filming a bit of training? What are you learning by watching them train for an hour? ...it was a ridiculous thing to do.

"They have made a big, big error and they have been severely punished they really have," he added.

"I don't know how it is going to pan out... we certainly haven't heard the last of it... it's a crazy situation... I thought they would get a massive fine but to be thrown out the play-off final is really very severe."

How Hull City and Middlesbrough have reacted to major play-off final change after Southampton spygate scandal

Unsurprisingly, the initial outcome of the independent disciplinary commission hasn't pleased everybody, with a separate three-man ruling set to hear Saints' appeal on Wednesday.

Sergej Jakirovic and Acun Ilicali, meanwhile, recently stated from a Hull perspective, that the game should go ahead as planned on Saturday, with it also being revealed that the East Yorkshire outfit will seek legal advice of their own if the final sees its date rescheduled from Saturday, May 23rd.

Middlesbrough, meanwhile, released a statement alongside the news of Saints' explusion, which included the line of: "We believe this sends out a clear message for the future of our game regarding sporting integrity and conduct."

After returning to their own training base earlier in the week, they are now preparing for a third contest of the season against Hull, even though City reaffirmed earlier in the week that their own preparations were fully on Southampton.