“Feeling lost in all this mess” – Southampton player shares thoughts after team is removed from play-off final
Leo Scienza has become the first Southampton player to speak out after the club was kicked out of the Championship play-off final because of the spygate scandal.
Southampton were removed from the match against Hull City at Wembley after admitting to “multiple breaches of EFL rules” for secretly filming other teams’ training sessions. Middlesbrough, who Southampton had beaten in the play-off semi-final, made a complaint that led to this decision. The EFL also docked Southampton four points.
The club launched a desperate appeal, but the ruling stayed the same. Middlesbrough were put back into the final, just one win away from getting promoted to the Premier League.
In a statement, Southampton called the decision an “extremely disappointing outcome” and a “painful moment.” Scienza, who played a key role in Southampton’s play-off and FA Cup runs, shared his feelings honestly on Tuesday night.
On Instagram, the 27-year-old said, “Disappointment, anger, sadness… It’s hard to find the right words to describe what we’re feeling right now.
“What happened in the last few days is heartbreaking — for the club, for every player here, and most of all for our supporters. A moment like this should never end this way.
“I feel sorry for every football fan, and for the players and supporters of Hull and Boro, who got caught up in all this mess too.
“We gave everything for this dream. Day after day, sacrifice after sacrifice, we believed we could bring this club back to where it belongs. For me, playing in the Premier League was something I fought for with all my heart. That’s why this hurts so much.
“The hardest part is knowing how much our fans deserved this. You stood by us all season with amazing passion and belief. Even in the toughest times, you kept us going.”
Kuryu Matsuki also thanked the supporters on Instagram, saying their “incredible support” means a lot and that it’s “very hard to put my feelings into words right now.”
Before the appeal ruling, The Athletic reported that some Southampton players were thinking about taking legal action against the club and had a meeting planned. They also got advice from the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), since many could lose big earnings, including a promotion bonus of £250,000. Some players who had accepted 40% pay cuts after relegation were supposed to get higher wages if the team went up this season.
Manager Tonda Eckert has reportedly admitted responsibility for spying on other teams three times and might face more punishment from the FA. According to talkSPORT, he could even lose his job, and there are worries this scandal might hurt future sponsorship deals.