Southampton chief cites Leeds United case after Championship play-off expulsion | OneFootball

Southampton have cited Leeds United’s 2019 spying case in their response to being expelled from the Championship play-offs over three similar breaches.

The Saints were charged with observing training at Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough, their semi-final opponents, whom they beat 2-1 on aggregate. An independent disciplinary commission confirmed the expulsion on Tuesday.

Dubbed Spygate 2.0, the row echoes 2019 when a Bielsa aide watched Derby training from a public footpath. Leeds were fined £200,000 for breaching good-faith rules. A later rule banned observing opposition sessions within 72 hours, and Southampton admitted both breaches.

Chief executive Phil Parsons said the club had breached EFL Regulations 3.4 and 127 and apologised to affected clubs and supporters. He added Southampton had fully cooperated and, after the appeal, would volunteer for an EFL group on applying and enforcing Regulation 127 across the Championship. He said contrition would be meaningless without change and the club intends to show it.

Parsons accepted a sanction was due but argued this was disproportionate, contrasting it with Leeds’ £200,000 fine and noting Southampton were denied a game worth more than £200 million. The statement said the financial hit was the largest penalty on an English club, citing Luton Town’s 30-point deduction in League Two and Chelsea’s £10.75 million fine over £47.5m in undisclosed payments across seven years.

Southampton have lodged an appeal, which is under review with a decision expected imminently. For now, Middlesbrough are due to meet Hull at Wembley in Saturday's play-off final.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk