The former Tigers’ ace says what is alleged to have been done is unacceptable
Tonda Eckert is under fire for his potential role in the spying scandal (Image: Warren Little/Getty Images)
Michael Dawson says he expects Southampton to be punished ‘severely’ if they’re found guilty of spying on Middlesbrough’s training session before the play-off semi-final first leg, which ended 0-0.
Southampton, who went on to win 2-1 in the semi-final after extra-time last week, were charged by the EFL, and it’s expected an independent panel will decide the punishment that will be levied against the South Coast club in the next 24 hours.
Doubt remains if Saturday’s Championship play-off final with Hull City will even go ahead yet, despite the Tigers selling more than 30,000 tickets for the Wembley showpiece final.
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The panel could inflict a huge fine on Southampton, dock them points, or the strongest punishment would be to expel them from the play-offs completely.
Leeds United were handed a heavy fine when Marcelo Bielsa admitted to spying on Derby County, but crucially, laws were brought in after that case. Southampton have so far refused to comment, and Dawson isn’t impressed.
“Well, I absolutely hate it,” Dawson told Sky Sports. “The integrity of the game, the sportsmanship, and yes, look, managers, players, you try to make an advantage wherever you can, but going to do, if found guilty is unacceptable.
“They’ve got a big decision to make and they have to make it quick, cos you’ve got to think of all the Hull City fans that have booked the travel, the hotel, what will be the outcome?
“Only time will tell, but the EFL have certainly got a big, big decision to be made because we saw what happened with Leeds United when they were fined £200,000 a few years ago. I don’t like it, and I expect them to be punished severely.”
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