Southampton face potential play-off expulsion as new Spygate twist emerges | OneFootball

There has been another twist in the Spygate drama.

Since Southampton defeated Middlesbrough in the Championship semi-finals on Tuesday night, news regarding Spygate has dominated the headlines.

Tonda Eckert's side beat Boro 2-1 after extra time at St Mary's Stadium, following a goalless draw at the Riverside, meaning that the South Coasters progressed to the play-off final to face Hull City at Wembley Stadium.

However, Southampton's place in the final is in doubt after one of their staff was allegedly caught spying on Middlesbrough's training session around 48 hours before the first-legged clash was scheduled on Teesside, creating a complexion of drama and uncertainty regarding this season's play-offs.

With an independent commission set to meet regarding the incident and decide how Saints should be punished, there has now been a significant update.

Spygate independent hearing date set

The Championship play-off final between Hull and Southampton is in doubt as the footballing world waits to find out whether Saints will be punished and how far their punishment will go for watching and observing Boro's training session.

It has been widely reported that the South Coast outfit could receive anything from a fine to being kicked out of the play-offs entirely, which would obviously have huge ramifications.

This is a unique situation in that it is the first time since Leeds United were fined £200,000 for spying under Marcelo Bielsa in 2019, but there has since been a new rule introduced, which means Southampton's punishment should be more severe.

With the Championship play-off final set for 23 May, time is of the essence for a decision to be made, and now it seems we will not have to wait long before discovering an outcome.

That's because the Independent Disciplinary Commission hearing will be undertaken on or before next Tuesday, as confirmed by the EFL, with the authorities desperate to ensure that the fixture is fulfilled on the scheduled date as a range of possibilities remain at large.

The fallout from Southampton's Spygate incident has been unprecedented

Understandably, the Spygate story has gripped the nation, but now that Southampton are set to play in the final, people are rightly demanding answers.

Middlesbrough could be the main benefactors from the situation as they were knocked out by Saints, with their players set to train just in case they are reinstated into the final.

Steve Gibson has even taken action into his own hands by recruiting a leading football lawyer to help his club's case, as they feel they have been cheated out of a promotion shot.

Then there is Hull, who progressed to the final by defeating third-placed Millwall over two legs, and even they are dealing with the consequences of the South Coast club's actions.

With reports suggesting that the play-off final could be moved, many Tigers supporters have been unable to book their match tickets, travel or accommodation as they await an outcome, with the club releasing a ticketing update on the matter.

There have even been reports that German outfit Borussia Mönchengladbach have put Eckert at the top of their wishlist of head coaches should they part ways with current boss Eugene Polanski.

At least now a date has been set, and all the clubs involved can try their best to draw a line under the situation once a decision has been announced, but expect the fallout to roll into the summer regardless of what happens.