The EFL have released the written reasons behind Southampton's expulsion from the play-offs following the Spygate scandal, where the club admitted to spying on Middlesbrough and two other teams during the season. The Independent Disciplinary Commission ruled that Tonda Eckert's side were booted out of the competition ahead of their final against Hull City and handed a four-point deduction for the next campaign.
Reprimand for Junior Staff Pressure
It has now emerged that Southampton were additionally reprimanded for forcing a junior member of staff to undertake the spying mission. The staff member was put under pressure despite believing the act to be 'morally wrong'. The commission noted the 'particularly deplorable approach' in using junior employees for clandestine observations.
Why Expulsion Was Necessary
The commission explained that a sporting sanction was required due to the significant financial rewards of promotion to the Premier League. A points deduction during the regular season could be seen as 'a risk worth taking', while a financial penalty would be meaningless given the riches on offer. Therefore, expulsion from the play-offs was deemed the only appropriate sanction.
In their determination, the commission stated: 'We have concluded that there was a contrived and determined plan from the top down to gain a competitive advantage by deliberate attendance at opposition training grounds. It involved far more than innocent activity.'
Key Deliberations
Paragraph 37 highlights the aggravating feature of breaching Regulation 127 in a competition of 'real significance' with considerable financial consequences. Paragraph 38 notes that the integrity of the play-offs was seriously violated, and expulsion was necessary as lesser sanctions would not deter such behaviour. A points deduction for the regular season might still be worthwhile if it enhances promotion chances, and a financial penalty would be negligible.
For the remaining charges, a starting point of three points per incident was taken, with a six-point deduction mitigated to four points reflecting the club's acceptance of charges and cooperation. The commission did not consider an additional financial sanction necessary.
Finally, a reprimand was deemed appropriate due to the way junior staff were pressured into activities they felt were morally wrong. Such staff were in a vulnerable position without job security and limited ability to resist instructions.
