Sadly, none of this matters now. If they are looking to blame anyone, blame the person – or people – who chose to spy on Middlesbrough’s training session last week.
They broke the rules. It is as simple as that. When former Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa admitted he spied on every opponent in training, the English Football League brought in a new rule so it could punish any repeat far more severely than the $450,000 fine it handed Leeds.
Whoever is responsible for the spying incident has betrayed the football club and tarnished its reputation. With the exception of Portsmouth, Southampton have never been a club who cause offence, but their sly, underhand methods have alienated so many people.
Southampton have had ample opportunity to deny that one of their employees spied on Middlesbrough’s last in-depth training session before the play-off semifinal, but have failed to do so.
It is understood that members of the Southampton board have admitted it happened in private conversations, suggesting they would take a fine.
The punishment must fit the size of the crime
That is never going to be acceptable to Middlesbrough, who have made it clear to both Southampton and the EFL that they want a sporting sanction.
They will leave what that looks like for others to decide, but in their view, it should either be the forfeiting of the first leg of the semifinal to award them a 3-0 win, or Southampton’s expulsion from the play-offs.
Given the stakes, the punishment must fit the size of the crime. If Southampton are allowed to face Hull City with a misconduct charge of this magnitude hanging over them, the EFL will be sending a damaging and toxic message to the rest of its members.
It will tell us that under the EFL’s watch, you can break the rules and it will be worth it. It will be admitting it allows cheats to prosper, even after they are caught.
If Southampton are allowed to compete for promotion, it will encourage others to do the same at this stage of the season.
If you can get away with just a fine, a suspended points penalty, or both, for spying on an opposition team’s training, the risks of getting caught will seem worthwhile when you measure the reward of promotion at close to $455 million.
What we have seen from Southampton ever since their spy was identified last week – and Boro insisted they had compelling evidence that proved he was one of their analysts – is a classic example of playing for time.
They surely know the evidence damns them but, having released a holding statement last week saying they were co-operating with the EFL after Telegraph Sport had revealed the full details of the scandal, they have continued to obfuscate.
A lengthy statement from Phil Parsons, the club’s chief executive, this week amounted to little more than another attempt to delay. He requested more time to conduct their own internal review. Pointing to a congested fixture schedule for the hold-up, knowing full well that the play-off final will be played in less than a fortnight.
If Southampton can drag things out until after that game, they may well be promoted and free from EFL jurisdiction. Whatever punishment they received would not stop them earning millions from a return to the Premier League.
The EFL has urged an independent disciplinary committee to speed up the process that normally allows accused clubs 14 days to respond and set out their defence.
They must suspect what Southampton are trying to do. A decision is needed before the final and it should mean Middlesbrough face Hull at Wembley.
Southampton can then take as much time as they want with their internal review.
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