Derby County view on Southampton, Middlesbrough Spygate scandal - EFL warned of 'crazy decision' | OneFootball

FLW's Rams Fan Pundit thinks it's 'just sour grapes' at Teesside after losing to Saints

The row over Spygate 2.0 - Southampton allegedly spying on Middlesbrough - has brought back memories at Derby County of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United in 2019.

As of 15th May, it's been exactly seven years since the Rams knocked out Leeds in the semi-final second leg of the Championship playoffs, winning 4-2.

It was, of course, during the 18/19 season that the Yorkshire club were fined £200k by the EFL for spying on opponents - it’s just that Derby were just the first club to catch them doing it.

In similar fashion to how the Saints intern was confronted, a member of Leeds’ staff was spotted behaving "suspiciously" outside Moor Farm, Derby’s training ground, before the match between the two sides on 10th January.

FLW's Derby Fan Pundit, Shaun Woodward, has voiced his opinion on whether he thinks what Southampton are accused of is worse than what Bielsa admitted to.

EFL warned of making 'crazy decision' involving Southampton and Middlesbrough

Woodward insisted that the reaction to Southampton’s alleged actions are over the top, arguing that Middlesbrough should instead have used the situation as motivation like Derby in 2019.

"I think the whole thing’s been blown out of proportion massively," Woodward told FLW.

"Middlesbrough had 180 minutes to use that, to fuel them to get a result over Southampton, and they failed to do so.

"Southampton were in the wrong by potentially spying on Middlesbrough, but I just really don’t think it’s something that needs to go any further than a slap on the wrist or a fine."

As a result of this fresh scandal, though, the play-off final may not even go ahead on the scheduled date of Saturday, 23rd May. According to the BBC, a hearing will take place "on or before Tuesday, 19th May."

If Southampton are found guilty, there’s currently no set punishment in place. The possible outcomes range from a fine to a points deduction, or even being removed from the play‑offs.

Woodward added, "To potentially have Middlesbrough put in the final over Southampton, I think that’s a crazy decision if it happens. It’s always the fans that are affected by this the most."

Derby County used 2019 Leeds United Spygate as 'fuel', Middlesbrough told they didn't

When the whole Derby/Leeds Spygate came out in the news, Bielsa publicly admitted to it all. You might even remember the Argentine presenting a detailed 66-minute PowerPoint explaining all his methods.

Crucially, at the time there was no explicit rule prohibiting such behaviour, though it was widely viewed as breaching sporting integrity.

Which is perhaps why Woodward claimed, "It would be a horrific decision if they [Southampton] were chucked out because of a man with his iPhone behind a tree watching their training.

"Yeah, it happened to Derby with Bielsa, but we used that as fuel to lead us to victory at Elland Road in the play-off semi-final. That’s the best way you can respond to something like that.

"I think going down the route of ‘we’ve lost, so we’re going to try and find another way of overturning the result, it’s just sour grapes and you need to get over it," the Fan Pundit concluded.

Ultimately, Bielsa immediately admitted responsibility and faced the media head-on, which, alongside the lack of a clear rule at the time, shaped how the situation was handled.

Even though Tonda Eckert hasn't done those things, Woodward still it'll be unfair on Saints fans if they miss out on a trip to Wembley.