Portsmouth fire dig at Southampton after being expelled from play-off final | OneFootball

Portsmouth have taken aim at Southampton after they were expelled from the play-offs

Portsmouth renewed their rivalry with Southampton in the Championship this season after their relegation from the Premier League, and it looks set to be reignited again next year after Saints were kicked out of the EFL Championship play-off final after Spygate.

John Mousinho’s side earned promotion to the second tier in 2024, but they were unable to face their fiercest rival as Russell Martin led the Hampshire outfit to the top flight through the play-offs.

But Southampton could only finish 20th in the table last season, leading to a swift return to the second tier after just one year.

The south coast derby hadn’t been played since an EFL Cup clash in 2019 that was won 4-0 by the Saints.

Pompey earned a draw in both league fixtures this season on their way to an 18th place finish in the table.

A 0-0 draw in September was followed by a 1-1 at Fratton Park, with Ebou Adams earning the team a point after Leo Scienza had put Tonda Eckert’s team ahead.

Portsmouth make Southampton spying dig

Portsmouth have revelled in the EFL’s decision to expel Southampton from the play-offs with a cheeky dig aimed at their rivals on social media.

In the lead up to the 0-0 draw in September, the club posted a video in anticipation of a first derby clash in six years, with the caption: “The south coast derby. Coming soon.”

On Tuesday evening, Pompey reposted the video with the “soon” emoji, mocking the Saints for having their promotion hopes dashed.

Eckert’s side courted controversy when they were caught spying on Middlesbrough’s pre-match training session prior to the first leg of their semi-final tie.

While the Hampshire outfit earned a 2-1 aggregate victory over Kim Hellberg’s side, the threat of expulsion hung over them for breaching the EFL’s rules relating to spying.

The filming of pre-match training was prohibited by the league in 2019 following an incident involving Leeds United and Derby County.

An independent commission led a hearing involving Southampton on Tuesday, which concluded with the punishment that the club have been expelled from the play-offs.

Eckert’s side have also received a four point deduction penalty, which will be applied to next season.

Portsmouth’s rivals are set to appeal the decision, with an outcome expected within 24 hours.

But, for now, Middlesbrough have been reinstated into the play-off final, where they will meet Hull City on 23 May at Wembley Stadium.

And Pompey will now be looking forward to two more Championship meetings with Southampton in the next campaign.

Portsmouth will laud Southampton spying case over them for years and years

Southampton have suffered significant reputational damage as a consequence of this spying case, and the punishment of being expelled from the play-offs will be lauded over them by rivals for years to come.

Portsmouth have taken no time at all to take a jab at their bitter rivals, and fans will be delighted at the outcome of this EFL hearing.

The two meetings between the clubs next season could be particularly intense now as a result of this decision, as Pompey will be keen to pile on with Southampton’s suffering.

The south coast derby had only been played once in 13 years prior to their two league matches this season, so fans of Mousinho’s side will also be delighted to get two more opportunities to get a win on the Saints, which they haven’t achieved since 2010.