Spygate commission accuses Southampton of ‘determined plan from the top down’

An independent disciplinary commission has expelled Southampton from the Championship playoffs after finding the club had a 'contrived and determined plan from the top down' to illicitly obtain information on opponents. Manager Tonda Eckert was found to have 'specifically authorised' spying on rivals on three separate occasions during the season. Southampton initially denied filming Middlesbrough's training sessions ahead of their playoff semi-final before ultimately accepting the charges.