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  "path": "/sport/football/ryan-reynolds-southampton-spygate-scandal",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-20T08:29:43.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Arsenal win Premier League title for first time in 22 years after Man City draw",
    "‘This is going to be very challenging!’ Patrick Christys begrudgingly congratulates Arsenal",
    "Scotland announce 26-man World Cup squad as 43-year-old veteran makes the cut",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nRyan Reynolds, co-owner of Championship side Wrexham and renowned superstar actor, has took aim at Southampton over the spygate scandal.\n\nThe Deadpool star posted on social media a photograph of the Strange Brew characters Bob and Doug McKenzie, both wearing Southampton scarves.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe characters from the Canadian comedy are portrayed as lovable idiots who are typically prone to terrible ideas and being constantly confused.\n\nThey are sometimes cited as an early inspiration for the Dumb and Dumber movies.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nReynolds swipe comes as Southampton were thrown out of the Championship play-offs following the \"spygate\" affair, with an Independent Disciplinary Commission delivering its verdict today.\n\nMiddlesbrough has taken the Saints' place and contest Saturday's final against Hull City at Wembley, with kick-off time yet to be confirmed.\n\nThe South Coast Club has also been handed a four-point penalty that will be applied to their 2026/27 Championship campaign.\n\nThe punishment follows Southampton's admission to multiple violations of EFL rules concerning the illicit recording of rival clubs' training sessions.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n### LATEST SPORTS NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * Arsenal win Premier League title for first time in 22 years after Man City draw\n  * ‘This is going to be very challenging!’ Patrick Christys begrudgingly congratulates Arsenal\n  * Scotland announce 26-man World Cup squad as 43-year-old veteran makes the cut\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSouthampton informed the Press Association an appeal against the independent commission's verdict will be lodged.\n\nThe EFL confirmed Southampton faced initial charges on Friday, May 8, with additional allegations following on Sunday, May 17, after further incidents came to light during the original investigation.\n\nThe club acknowledged breaking regulations that mandate clubs operate with complete good faith and forbid surveillance of opponents' training within 72 hours of a fixture.\n\nThese violations related to three separate matches throughout the current campaign: a December 2025 encounter with Oxford United, an April 2026 fixture against Ipswich Town, and the recent play-off semi-final against Middlesbrough.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe commission also issued a formal reprimand alongside the sporting sanctions.\n\nThe controversy erupted on May 7 when Middlesbrough lodged an official complaint with the EFL, alleging that a Southampton staff member had observed their training three days before the play-off semi-final first leg.\n\nFollowing a goalless draw at the Riverside Stadium, Boro manager Kim Hellberg accused his opponents of cheating.\n\nThe second leg at St Mary's on May 12 saw Shea Charles score in extra time to secure a 2-1 victory for Southampton.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHellberg condemned what he called \"disgraceful spying\", whilst Saints boss Tonda Eckert walked out of his post-match press conference when asked: \"Are you a cheat?\"\n\nPhotographs subsequently emerged, appearing to show a Southampton analyst in the vicinity of Middlesbrough's training facility.\n\nMiddlesbrough had publicly demanded Southampton's removal from the play-offs on May 15, stating that preventing the club from appearing in the final represented \"the only appropriate response\" given the circumstances.\n\nThe Teesside club's squad resumed training on Monday as they awaited the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings.\n\nThe EFL had indicated on May 14 that the hearing would conclude by May 19, warning that \"the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture\".\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Ryan Reynolds takes aim at Southampton over spygate scandal"
}