The spygate scandal at Southampton FC
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Clare Byrne Show on Newstalk with Aviva Insurance.
What led to Southampton FC's expulsion from the Championship?
Southampton Football Club has been expelled from the championship after the whole Spygate scandal. They also received a points deduction, meaning they're going to begin next season four points worse off. Middlesbrough are facing Hull now in Saturday's playoff final for the right to join the Premier League next season. Let's get the latest on this with John Bruin from The Guardian. Hello, John.
Hello, Clare. How are you?
I'm good. Who would have thought it when we spoke about this first when we had the photograph of the man behind the tree that we'd end up here? Were you surprised last night when the news emerged?
Oh, yes, yes. I was at Bournemouth last night, Bournemouth against Manchester City, and yeah, sent shockwaves around the press box. I mean, I suppose the punishment was likely, but quite stark to see it when it did happen.
What were the implications of the points deduction for Southampton FC?
You know, the adventures of young master William Salt have taken quite a turn, haven't they?
They certainly have. Do you think it was a fair punishment?
As far as I know, the fact that Southampton also admitted to other offences would suggest that, and probably did that to try and get some kind of clemency, suggests that it's been systemic and in that case, The EFL almost has to protect itself because they would be facing all types of legal action from Middlesbrough in particular and maybe other clubs besides. One thing to say about the EFL and fans of many clubs that have been in those divisions will tell you their punishments are draconian. Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds, you name any club that's fallen into financial difficulties here. hammered very different to the Premier League you know we've had that recent punishment for Chelsea which seemed rather light considering that it was admitted that there'd been you know 10 years of malfeasance and then of course the Manchester City charges which of course we await and may never happen but yeah the EFL don't mess around and perhaps that ought to have been borne in mind
So just because it does sound as though Southampton went into that hearing with their hands up and said, yep, we did this. Not only that, but here are the other things that we did. Will you tell us about the other things that they have admitted to?
Who is John Brewin and what insights does he provide on the scandal?
Yeah, well, they spied on Oxford. I think they spied on Oxford because they'd had a change of manager and then they spied Ipswich. Now, one of them involved, uh, again, uh, the spy, uh, less James Bond than Rowan Atkinson's, uh, Johnny English, uh, wearing, wearing the kit of Eastley, who is a local team to Southampton, a sort of non-league team. It's all very, uh, ham-fisted, isn't it? And I mean, obviously when the reports came out, it was of this high-tech spying. And, um, One of the issues is supposedly, as part of their submissions, Tonda Eckert, the Southampton manager, says he didn't realise that this was against the rules. Now, in UK law, and Irish, I'm sure, ignorance is no defence, of course.
And that's at the heart of it. So I think Southampton are shocked. And there is still, as we speak, some element of appeal going through. which has led to a very strange situation where the EFL have announced that the kick-off is 3.30 if it's Hull Middlesbrough and 4.30 should Southampton be reinstated on Saturday. I think that's to do with the trains. We have a big problem with public transport. In fact, the trains in the east of the country are actually... on replacement bus services. So that's just, you know, it further speaks to the issues we have of infrastructure over in England. But yeah, it's such a complicated mess and beyond when this goes, the ramifications are going to be deep. There's already talk of perhaps the Southampton players suing the club for their negligence and allowing this to happen because
Players that are in the Premier League earn 40% more wages. They took a wage cut as part of relegation. Of course.
That's a really interesting angle on it. So they could just say, I mean, you're the reason that we're in this situation with 40% less cash in the bank.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–0:09
2
What led to Southampton FC's expulsion from the Championship?
0:09–0:58
3
What were the implications of the points deduction for Southampton FC?
0:58–2:31
4
Who is John Brewin and what insights does he provide on the scandal?
2:31–6:05
5
Was the punishment for Southampton FC considered fair?
6:05–9:36
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from The Claire Byrne Show
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