Southampton are at the center of the Spygate scandal that has rocked English football, with new damning details reportedly revealed.
Damaging new reports surrounding Southampton and the Spygate scandal have emerged. (Image: Getty Images)
Southampton officials were reportedly wearing the colors of another club during the spying operation. Saints were kicked out of the Championship play-offs just days before the final at Wembley, receiving the harshest punishment yet.
Tonda Eckert’s side were preparing to take on Hull City in a £200m showdown at Wembley for a place in the Premier League. The semi-final victory over Middlesbrough was overshadowed by charges of spying in the run-up to the first leg, with Saints later indicted, but an independent commission came down heavily on the south coast club, expelling Saints and reinstating Boro.
The English Football League (EFL) said in a statement on Tuesday that Southampton had been found to have been spying on two separate accounts ahead of their matches against Oxford United and Ipswich Town respectively. The Athletic claimed that incriminating messages sent by Eckert, the much-criticized head coach, to a St. Mary’s University analyst were revealed during the hearing.
read more: Spygate Live: EFL withdraws new statement as details of explosive Southampton hearing leakedread more: Southampton exposed by Spygate after play-off call: ‘My own players could sue me’
It is also reported that he disguised himself in a National League Eastleigh kit during a secret mission to spy on Ipswich Town.
The hearing was told that Eckert had sent people to spy on the two Championship rivals, who were ultimately unhappy with the outcome, but that they were wearing Spitfires shirts when Ipswich were using Hampshire’s training ground for the game against the Tractor Boys.
Southampton’s legal representatives are due to appear before the appeals panel today (May 20) in the hope of overturning the decision, but a memo from chief executive Phil Parsons to employees expressed confidence that the club could win the appeal.
Southampton knocked Middlesbrough out of the play-offs last week but have since been kicked out (Image: Warren Little, Getty Images)
However, The Athletic reported that one of the key revelations from Tuesday’s hearing was that WhatsApp messages sent by Eckert to analysts were particularly detrimental to Southampton’s case. Two club analysts expressed remorse at the hearing, but said they had been coaxed into a spy trip.
Meanwhile, it has since been reported that Eckert has been fired from his position as head coach and could be fined by the Football Association (FA) due to the scandal. Giving evidence, the German player claimed he was unaware of the rules regarding spying in England, as it is widespread in European football.
The kick-off time for the Championship play-off final between Middlesbrough and Hull City has been set for Saturday 23 May at 3.30pm. However, if the final is between Hull and Southampton as a result of the ongoing appeal process, the kick-off time will remain at 4.30pm.
Southampton have been contacted for comment.
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