‘Spygate 2.0’: Southampton fans don costumes in mockery of Boro spying accusation | OneFootball

Numerous Southampton fans were spotted in costumes appearing to poke fun at Championship playoff semi-final opponents Middlesborough’s claim the club spied on their first team training.

Cameras on Sky Sports Football picked out supporters donning binoculars and, ironically, wearing gillie suits, with the sides heading into the break in their second leg tied at 1-1 on aggregate.

Boos were ringing around St. Mary’s Stadium while the visitors were on the ball in a chaotic first half, which also saw Saints captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis alleged to have used discriminatory language towards teammate Luke Ayling.

It comes as The Times report that the Saints may face a ban from the playoff final at Wembley, regardless of how tonight’s action unfolds, after a staff member was photographed at Boro’s training ground ahead of their goalless draw in last week’s first leg.

Middlesborough manager Kim Hellberg described the incident as “cheating”, with the club lodging an official complaint with the EFL, calling for the strongest possible punishment to be administered on the South Coast club.

The incident, nicknamed ‘Spygate 2.0’ by football fans, isn’t the first time a club was alleged to have resorted to spying on their opposition, with Leeds United having been charged with spying on playoff semi-final opponents Derby County during the 2018/19 campaign under Marco Bielsa.

United were charged £200,000 by the EFL for spying on several teams, with the same accusations now being levelled towards Southampton as several other Championship sides said to have approached Middlesborough with similar suspicions.

Southampton have requested more time to conduct an internal investigation before facing the EFL’s Independent Disciplinary Commission and any potential charges that come with it.

Regulation 127 of the EFL, which the Saints are accused of having breached by Boro, prohibits spying on opponents 72 hours or fewer before a competitive fixture – if the case, the Teesside club could be reinstated for the playoff final to face Hull City.

Other courses of action the EFL may take include a fine or a point deduction – meaning the Saints would begin the 2026/27 Championship season on minus points if they fail to gain promotion to the top flight.

Tonda Eckert’s side might claim that the analyst accused of spying acted of his own volition, rather than under official instruction by himself or another member of their backroom staff.

The EFL are yet to confirm a date for an official hearing, after which the fallout from football’s latest spying controversy will be fascinating for all to see.