New twist emerges in Southampton, Middlesbrough ‘Spygate’ scandal | OneFootball

Southampton have been charged by the EFL for spying on Middlesbrough ahead of their play-off clash

Southampton and Middlesbrough are set to compete for a place in the Championship play-off final.

The Saints will travel to the Riverside for the first leg meeting on Saturday afternoon before they will host Boro at St Mary’s on May 12.

Tonda Eckert’s side finished level on points with the Teesside outfit, but finished ahead in the table due to a superior goal difference.

The Hampshire outfit enjoyed an impressive second half of the campaign, rising into the play-offs and almost into automatic promotion contention.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough struggled for form in the final weeks of the season, with Kim Hellberg’s side slipping out of the top two and down to fifth in the standings.

Southampton are seeking an immediate return to the Premier League, while Boro haven’t competed at that level since 2017 - but an added bit of spice has been added to their two-legged clash.

Southampton react to EFL spying charge and issue new claim

Middlesbrough alleged earlier this week that a member of the Saints’ staff was caught filming a training session in the lead-up to their semi-final first leg clash, and it has been reported by The Telegraph that Southampton have now accepted the EFL's charge in relation to spying.

The EFL formally charged the Hampshire outfit after Boro accused a man of taking photos and videos of their training, and the club have reportedly accepted the claim that they were seeking an unfair advantage prior to Saturday’s clash at the Riverside.

However, Southampton have now suggested that the analyst in question was acting on his own behalf, and was not instructed to spy on Middlesbrough’s training by the Championship club.

It is believed that the Saints are hoping this defence will lead to a lenient punishment from the EFL, who introduced rules regarding spying following the original Spygate scandal in 2019 involving Leeds United and Derby County.

The Whites were fined £200,000 after a member of Marcelo Bielsa’s staff was discovered spying on the Rams’ training before their league meeting.

It’s understood that Boro have gathered information from a whistleblower that this isn’t the first time their play-off opponent has spied on another team’s training this season.

It remains to be seen what punishment Southampton will receive from the EFL, with a number of options on the table.

That includes a possible points deduction, or even expulsion from the competition, which has heightened tensions ahead of their meeting this afternoon.

Southampton have taken an unnecessary risk ahead of Middlesbrough clash

With the mountains of information clubs now have on their rivals, including the experience of playing Middlesbrough twice already this season, this was an unnecessary risk ahead of such an important game.

Southampton will be hoping this lone wolf defence will ease any punishment they receive, but if there is evidence of this being a regular occurrence then that may lead to a significant penalty.

It has also ratcheted up the tension before an already momentous occasion, and it will add even further motivation for the Middlesbrough squad, as if they even needed any.

This is a huge opportunity to win promotion, but the Saints have put themselves on the backfoot in the lead-up to this game with this distracting controversy.