Ryan Reynolds, co-owner of Championship side Wrexham and renowned superstar actor, has took aim at Southampton over the spygate scandal.
The Deadpool star posted on social media a photograph of the Strange Brew characters Bob and Doug McKenzie, both wearing Southampton scarves.
The characters from the Canadian comedy are portrayed as lovable idiots who are typically prone to terrible ideas and being constantly confused.
They are sometimes cited as an early inspiration for the Dumb and Dumber movies.
Ryan Reynolds has taken aim at Southampton
| GETTY
The Hollywood actor portrayed Southampton as Strange Brew characters Bob and Doug McKenzie
|X/VancityReynolds
Reynolds 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.
Middlesbrough has taken the Saints' place and contest Saturday's final against Hull City at Wembley, with kick-off time yet to be confirmed.
The South Coast Club has also been handed a four-point penalty that will be applied to their 2026/27 Championship campaign.
The punishment follows Southampton's admission to multiple violations of EFL rules concerning the illicit recording of rival clubs' training sessions.
Southampton were booted out of the play-offs following the spygate scandal
|GETTY
LATEST SPORTS NEWS
Southampton informed the Press Association an appeal against the independent commission's verdict will be lodged.
The 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.
The club acknowledged breaking regulations that mandate clubs operate with complete good faith and forbid surveillance of opponents' training within 72 hours of a fixture.
These 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.
Southampton were charged by the EFL for breaching Regulations 3.4 and 127 | GETTYThe commission also issued a formal reprimand alongside the sporting sanctions.
The 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.
Following a goalless draw at the Riverside Stadium, Boro manager Kim Hellberg accused his opponents of cheating.
The second leg at St Mary's on May 12 saw Shea Charles score in extra time to secure a 2-1 victory for Southampton.
Southampton's 'spygate' scandal has gripped the Championship | GETTYHellberg 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?"
Photographs subsequently emerged, appearing to show a Southampton analyst in the vicinity of Middlesbrough's training facility.
Middlesbrough 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.
The Teesside club's squad resumed training on Monday as they awaited the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings.
The 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".
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter