It is not just spending power or wage bill. Foreign clubs used to succeed by being shrewdly analytical and using the South American market well. That edge seems to have receded. Most (obviously some exceptions) PL clubs are a lot more shrewd with their signings nowadays. You only need three or four shrewd PL clubs and they can pretty much take a big chunk of the most talented options off the market. Then you have these multi-club partnerships pretty much hoarding talent. Also, Spain used to benefit from the relegation format in European competitions. Now that is dead they don’t have the opportunity for a CL level team to compete at a lower level.
Full findings from the Southampton case - https://www.efl.com/news/2026/may/21/efl-statement--written-reasons-relating-to-southampton-fc/ If I was a Southampton fan I'd be fuming about how they handled this. They lied to the EFL in their initial response to the charges. They argued that as they admitted the offences they should only get a £200k fine and a reprimand - the same sanction as Leeds received before the rules were changed. They also claimed they got no advantage from the offences, which leads to the question "why even do it then?". There's a suggestion that junior staff were threatened with the sack if they didn't cooperate. The report describes a "contrived and determined plan from the top down to gain a competitive advantage", fully authorised by Eckert.
I'm surprised he hasn't already gone. Probably depends on his contract, and it may be cheaper to sack him if he gets a ban from the FA investigation.
Eckert was Germany’s ‘opposition analyst’ when they won the 2014 World Cup. Germany’s potential quarter-final opponents were complaining of spying in the early stages of the tournament. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27853374
Clearly it's much easier to make your name as an analyst when you have access to more data than everyone else.
I thought they'd at least suspend before the appeal to at least make it at least look like it was being taken seriously. Given the panel has blamed him, it seems he'll have a long ban coming. The Canada womens team boss got at a 12 month ban from FIFA for spying. He's arguably going to be in a worse position given there's evidence of this being systematic in his approach, and his use of interns to do it.
There were reports from credible journalists that if they'd won their appeal then they'd have kept him on. Which along with them lying to the EFL in their response to the charges pretty much sums up the club for me. Maybe they should just fine him. That's what they argued the sanction should be for these offences.
Yeah, unless Tuchel goes on a trophy spree I think it would be a surprise if he's not the next England manager.
If Tuchel falls the mood will probably be must hire English. Plus Pep has the possibility of damage from Man City’s charges as well as his political comments (Including the extremely sensitive Israel/ Palestine topic.)
Maybe just the start of Southampton's legal bills for the summer. 🚨 Caspar Jander’s former club FC Nürnberg are planning to take Southampton to court over a €1m bonus that would have been paid to the German side upon Premier League promotion #saintsfc @BILD pic.twitter.com/TwdPKxMjiN— SaintsExtra (@SaintsExtra) May 22, 2026 I also saw someone suggest that Boro take them to court as there's a promotion clause from the Finn Azaz transfer, but only if they win the playoffs.
Let me guess, he won’t get the job because he was City manager and the 115 charges are all Pep’s fault so he can’t get the job. Something on these lines no doubt?
True but I am not sure everyone will accept that. Particularly if Man a city do get any point deduction/ other notable sanction.
Yeah, I don’t know what to say at this point if people are that stupid to put any blame for what went on, I think even before he was manager.