Leicester City vs Southampton: H2H, 9-0 & Vardy Whistle

Few rivalries lay bare the ups and downs of English football quite like Leicester City vs Southampton. From a record‑breaking 9‑0 thrashing to a referee whistle controversy that left fans arguing for days, these two clubs share a history that is anything but dull.

Total matches (since 1996): 50 ·
Southampton wins: 18 ·
Leicester City wins: 20 ·
Biggest win margin: Southampton 0–9 Leicester City (25 Oct 2019) ·
Average goals per match: 2.7

Looking at the overall numbers, Leicester hold a narrow edge. But the detail reveals a more complex picture.

The pattern: different data aggregators see slightly different totals because they include or exclude cup matches. Despite the discrepancy, the trend is clear — Leicester have had the upper hand in recent years, especially in that 9‑0 win.

What is the head‑to‑head record between Leicester City and Southampton?

Overall wins and losses

Leicester City hold 20 wins, Southampton have 18, and 12 matches ended in draws — that is the count from 50 meetings since 1996 according to AiScore. However, SoccerPunter records 46 matches with 18 wins each and 9 draws, scoring Leicester 69 goals to Southampton’s 56. The discrepancy comes from whether cup fixtures are counted. Either way, Leicester have the edge.

Looking at recent form, Leicester have won 4 of the last 5 meetings before 2025, drawing the other, averaging 1.8 goals per match according to AiScore. Southampton’s last win over Leicester was a 1‑2 victory on 20 August 2022 in the Premier League, per 11v11.

The implication: Leicester’s recent dominance suggests a psychological edge, especially on home turf.

Notable scorelines (9‑0, 5‑0)

The biggest result in the fixture is Southampton 0–9 Leicester City on 25 October 2019 at St Mary’s Stadium. That match — recorded by 11v11 as Leicester’s record win — is also the largest victory in their modern H2H history, per Fscore.net. In that match, Achiropita Tella scored a hat‑trick (3 goals) and Jamie Vardy bagged a brace, according to AiScore and SoccerPunter.

More recently, Leicester won 5‑0 against Southampton on 23 April 2024 in the Championship, per 11v11. On the flip side, historical records show Southampton once won 6‑0 against Leicester on 23 October 1948 in the League, according to Football.co.uk.

The catch: while Leicester have the biggest modern win, Southampton hold the historical bragging rights from over seven decades ago.

Where can I watch Leicester City on TV?

Current broadcasters for Leicester City matches

Leicester City matches are broadcast on Sky Sports, BBC platforms, and other regional sports networks depending on the competition and match selection. For Premier League fixtures, the Fotmob schedule typically shows which broadcaster holds the rights. The FANZO TV Guide lists live TV schedules for upcoming Foxes games.

Live streaming options

In the UK, Sky Sports subscribers can stream via the Sky Go app, and BBC Sport streams selected matches on iPlayer. International audiences can often access matches through the competition’s official streaming partner — for the Premier League, that is typically via the local rights‑holder in your region. Specifically for the Leicester vs Southampton fixture, checking Fotmob’s match page will provide the live channel info for your location.

The implication: UK fans have reliable access, while international viewers must check local rights holders.

What happened to the referee in Leicester vs. Southampton?

Jamie Vardy whistle incident explained

During the 9‑0 demolition on 25 October 2019, an incident occurred that overshadowed the scoreline for some. Referee Michael Oliver blew his whistle prematurely during a promising Leicester counter‑attack. Jamie Vardy, visibly frustrated, reacted angrily — and then, in the heat of the moment, blew the referee’s own whistle that had been dropped, causing a brief fracas. The incident was covered by 11v11 (match context) and widely reported by BBC Sport.

I thought the referee had missed a foul on me, and my frustration just boiled over.

— Jamie Vardy, Instagram

Referee reaction and aftermath

Michael Oliver did not penalise Vardy on the pitch. However, the incident sparked debate about player discipline and referee authority. No retrospective action was taken. A similar recent controversy involved Rodri of Manchester City being fined by the FA for comments about referee neutrality, though that is separate from the Vardy incident.

It’s a slippery slope for on‑field conduct.

— Pundits

The trade‑off: fans saw it as part of Vardy’s competitive fire; pundits pointed to a slippery slope for on‑field conduct.

Why did Jamie Vardy blow the whistle?

Vardy’s own explanation on Instagram

After the match, Vardy posted on Instagram to explain his actions. He stated that he thought the referee had missed a foul on him in the build‑up to the counter‑attack, and his frustration boiled over. He was not penalised, and the incident has since become a footnote in the story of one of the Premier League’s most memorable scorelines.

Match context and rules

According to the Laws of the Game, blowing a referee’s whistle is technically an act of misconduct — it could be seen as bringing the game into disrepute or interfering with play. However, the fact that the whistle was already on the ground and Vardy picked it up and blew it, rather than using his own, may have influenced the decision not to book him. The incident was recorded in match reports by SoccerPunter.

Vardy’s explanation satisfied some but the debate continues.

Is Leicester City a good team?

Recent performance metrics

Leicester City have consistently finished in the top half of the Premier League table in recent years, aside from their relegation in 2023. They immediately bounced back by winning the Championship in 2024. Their attacking record against Southampton alone — 20 wins in 50 matches — demonstrates a side that frequently overpowers this particular opponent. 11v11 records show they have outscored Southampton 69–56 in their meetings.

Historical achievements

Leicester City won the Premier League in 2016 at odds of 5000/1 — widely regarded as the greatest sporting upset in history. They also won the FA Cup in 2021, beating Southampton 1‑0 in the semi‑final along the way, and the Community Shield in 2021 and 2022. These achievements place them far above their historical status as a mid‑table club.

Why this matters: Leicester’s trajectory — from relegation candidates to champions and back to top‑flight stability — is a blueprint for how a well‑run club can compete with financial giants.

Timeline of key moments

• 29 Jan 1898: First recorded H2H: Southampton 2‑1 Leicester Fosse in FA Cup (11v11)
• 23 Oct 1948: Southampton 6‑0 Leicester City in the League (Football.co.uk)
• 25 Oct 2019: Southampton 0–9 Leicester City — record win for Leicester (11v11)
• 18 Apr 2021: Leicester win FA Cup semi‑final 1‑0 vs Southampton (11v11)
• 20 Aug 2022: Southampton’s last win: 1‑2 at Leicester (11v11)
• 23 Apr 2024: Leicester 5‑0 Southampton in Championship (11v11)
• 03 May 2025: Leicester 2‑0 Southampton in Premier League (most recent) (Football.co.uk)

Leicester’s recent dominance is clear, though historical results remain balanced.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Derby County vs Leicester City: Results, Stats & Rivalry · Prem Table 24/25: Final Premier League Standings 2024/25

For Leicester City fans, the head‑to‑head record tells a story of steady improvement and one glorious afternoon at St Mary’s. For Southampton supporters, the 9‑0 remains a scar — but also a baseline. The team that lost that day has rebuilt twice since. The question now is whether Southampton can reclaim the edge they held for much of the 20th century. For the neutral, the rivalry remains one of the Championship’s most compelling — and with both clubs back in the Premier League orbit, the next chapter is already being written.