Southampton football club defeated Middlesbrough 2-1 on Tuesday evening to move forward into the Championship play off final on the 23rd May. The only problem is one of the Southampton teams back room staff was caught taking photographs at Middlesborough's training ground. What an absolute idiot because he is not even wearing any disguise and why he was identified as a member of the Southampton training staff.
The current England Football Rules clearly state that opponents cannot observe their opponents practice sessions 72 hours before the match. This incident was within 48 hours of their first leg tie as it is decided over two legs.
This is not new as Leeds were fined for something similar spying on Derby County before their match and were fined £200K, but this was a Championship match and not a crucial play off final. The laws were changed after that incident so a fine is still a possible outcome or Southampton could be removed entirely being replaced by Middlesborough who they beat. The hearing on their final decision has to be heard by the 19th May allowing the teams involved to prepare properly. Reports have revealed that Middlesborough are still training just in case they do replace Southampton.
The problem is the financials and how important this Championship play off final is. The play off final is considered the most lucrative football match in history for the winning team. A team being promoted to the English Premier League and surviving for the first season not being relegated can expect to earn £300m. This is why fining Southampton £200K or even £500K makes no real sense and those on the board of enquiry have no other choice, but to expel Southampton. This may sound rather harsh, but rules are rules and Southampton knew what they were doing unless this back room staff was on his own mission without orders from his club. If any of the photos revealed things like set pieces and Southampton used this information then there is no other alternative, but to reinstate Middlesborough. Any type of advantage gained would be damning and even if they gained no advantage it changes nothing because the intent was there.
One has to ask surely if you are going to spy on another team then you do a proper surveillance job and not use your own staff member with a phone camera. This is like a bad wind up or a joke yet it happened and what a bunch of amateur idiots. Surely they will be banned and removed because these are the rules and we live and die by these or this will continue with more instances in the future. A banning would send a clear message this will not be tolerated especially with the big money on the table for the winning team.
Spying is and will always be a threat and can recall the SA rugby team on two occasions having to move their pre match practices inside. Once in Japan prior to their Japanese match at the 2019 World Cup and the quarter final in France before playing the host country. You just never know who is recording your moves especially against a host nation as it could be anyone. This is why having a home training base that is secluded with private security is the more desired option.
