Spygate LIVE: Southampton decision imminent with play-off final in jeopardy | Football | Sport

Former Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith has blasted Southampton for their actions.

Speaking on the +72 Dootball Daily Podcast, he said: “I’ll be totally honest, when I first heard the news, it’s something you almost can’t believe. I’m thinking, ‘that can’t be true’.

“With everything that went on in 2019 with Marcelo Bielsa, and the rules that were implemented on the back of that – and rightly so to stop teams doing this type of stuff – only for it to then happen now, on the eve of one of the biggest games in English football.“I think it’s an absolute disgrace, I really do.

“I feel that strongly about it. For all the hard work that goes into a 46-game season – all the coaches, all the analysts, all the staff that put so much effort to give the players the best platform to go and produce and get the best outcome. There’s no other word for it in my view than disgraceful.

“I don’t know what the punishment is going to be. But, in my opinion, it needs to be strong. There is just no place in the game for it.”