D-Day at Spygate – What happens next?

The Independent Disciplinary Commission consists of three people, usually chaired by a King’s Counsel (KC). They sit with members of both parties who are lawyers, barristers or mediators.

It is expected to be a virtual hearing but it could take up to 24 hours for the verdict to be released.

If found guilty, options open to the Independent Disciplinary Commission include a fine, a point deduction for next season or kicking the Saints out of the playoffs.

Unlike, say, profit and sustaining hearings, there is no framework or sliding scale of sanction from crime. It’s completely new.

There is no direct precedent because no one has ever violated Regulation 127.

The Independent Disciplinary Commission will, in effect, make it – which adds further significance.

Whether the espionage is deemed sufficient for the panel to have a significant impact on publicity will be important.

We’ve seen a spying case before, when Leeds United were found guilty of watching Derby training seven years ago.

Leeds Fined £200,000 But there are a couple of important differences.

First, in 2019 there was no rule that prohibited watching the opponent train before the game. As a result, the EFL brought in Regulation 127.

Then there is the timing. Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa was caught sending a member of his staff to Derby’s training ground in mid-January, hardly a pivotal point in the season.

The Saints were accused of spying on their opponents ahead of the most important game of the season, the play-off semi-finals.

The argument is that the fine would be meaningless if Southampton beat Hull to gain promotion to the Premier League.

This would give the Saints a minimum of £110m in broadcast revenue.

Another option is a point penalty. It could be seen as a halfway house, with the Independent Disciplinary Commission eschewing the nuclear option of expelling Southampton from the play-offs but still enforcing a sporting ban.

If Saints are promoted, the EFL will not be able to unilaterally enforce the fine in the top flight, but it can recommend to the Premier League board that the exemption is carried out.

Knocking Southampton out of the play-offs would allow Boro to default to a 3-0 win for the first leg, and therefore a 4-2 win.

The Independent Disciplinary Commission must find a punishment that is fair but acts as a deterrent to any other clubs who might try to spy – especially before such games.

Saints head coach Tonda Eckert and his staff could face disciplinary action from the Football Association, although the EFL process must be completed first.

The coaching staff has to answer the questions.

Who knew what, when? Was there a live stream? Has it been uploaded anywhere?

At the 2024 Women’s Olympics, Canada was found guilty of spying on New Zealand using a drone.

FIFA docked six points from Canada and banned three members of the coaching staff, including the head coach, from all football for one year.