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Southampton soccer scandal: Coach pressured interns to spy, WhatsApp messages reveal

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Southampton coach Tonda Ackert allegedly pressured junior staff and interns to spy on rival clubs, leading to the team's disqualification from playoffs.
  • WhatsApp messages revealed in an arbitration report detail how the "calculated top-down plan" was executed, with interns expressing discomfort but complying due to pressure.
  • The club admitted to spying on multiple teams, resulting in disqualification from the playoffs and a four-point deduction for the following season.

Southampton coach Tonda Ackert exerted "extreme pressure" on junior staff and interns to spy on rival clubs, a tactic described as a "calculated and determined top-down plan" that ultimately led to the team's disqualification from the Championship playoffs. New details have emerged from an independent disciplinary committee hearing, including damning WhatsApp messages that illustrate how the espionage scandal unfolded.

I didn’t really have a choice and wasn’t given an opportunity to refuse. I was an intern and did what I was told.

— AnalystDescribing the pressure to spy on a rival team's training session.

Members of Daniel Peretz's team told the committee they felt uncomfortable with the tasks but were compelled to comply. One intern, sent to observe Oxford United's training session before a December match, wrote to colleagues: "I didn’t really have a choice and wasn’t given an opportunity to refuse. I was an intern and did what I was told." After passing on the collected information, he received a message stating, "You are a legend. The coach loved it."

You are a legend. The coach loved it.

— ColleagueResponding to the analyst after he provided information from spying.

When asked to spy on Ipswich Town, the same intern expressed reservations but was told, "the boss insists someone has to go." Another club analyst sent messages indicating his persistent unhappiness with the spying, stating, "I kept saying I was never happy with all this and that it wasn’t right, but nobody listened to me!" The report also noted attempts to remove online photos of the intern after the scandal broke.

the boss insists someone has to go.

— UnknownPressuring an intern to continue spying despite their concerns.

Southampton admitted to spying on Oxford United and Ipswich Town during the regular season, and later on Middlesbrough ahead of the playoff semifinals. This conduct led to the club's expulsion from the playoffs and a four-point deduction for the subsequent season. The disciplinary reasoning explicitly described the club's actions as a "calculated and determined top-down plan" approved by coach Ackert.

I kept saying I was never happy with all this and that it wasn’t right, but nobody listened to me!

— AnalystExpressing his discomfort with the club's spying activities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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