Could Middlesbrough replace Southampton in the EFL Championship play-off final? | OneFootball

Both sides are awaBoth sides are awaiting a decision on the 'spygatiting a decision on the 'spygate' incident involving a member of Southampton staff.

Southampton may have overcome Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off semi-finals, but the fallout from the two-legged tie is far from over.

The first leg at the Riverside finished goalless, and the sides could not be separated in the second leg either, as it finished 1-1 at St Mary's following goals from Riley McGree and Ross Stewart.

However, Saints always looked the more likely to find a winner and just minutes before the end of extra time, Shea Charles' attempted cross found its way into the bottom corner of Sol Brynn's net.

The tie will go down in history, but not for the action on the pitch, as a spying incident involving a Southampton analyst has overshadowed the encounter.

There has been a lot of noise around what could happen, with the possibility of Saints being kicked out of the play-offs discussed, so FLW has taken a deeper dive into whether Middlesbrough could replace the South Coast club in the play-off final, where Hull City await.

Southampton 'spygate' incident: What actually happened

Around 48 hours before Middlesbrough and Southampton locked horns at the Riverside, an analyst from the South Coast club was allegedly caught observing and filming the Teesside outfit's training session.

It has been revealed that Saints' spy was spotted by Boro staff standing behind a tree next to a hedge, which is positioned next to a metal gate with a sign that reads "Private property, authorised entry only."

In 2019, Leeds United were fined £200,000 after Marcelo Bielsa deployed a spy to watch Derby County train ahead of their clash, but there has since been a rule created to deter such activity from happening again, meaning that Saints could receive a different punishment.

Rule 3.4 has been in play for some time, which states that clubs must always deal with each other "in good faith", and that is why Leeds were given their fine.

However, since 2019, rule 127 has been in place, which prohibits any club from observing or attempting to observe another club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match.

Southampton have been charged with breaching both of those rules, which means that they should be set for a more severe punishment, but with the play-off final against Hull set for 23 May, time is of the essence.

What could Southampton's punishment be?

With Saints progressing to the play-off final, their supporters and Boro's will be anxiously waiting to find out what the accused's punishment will be.

Several publications have reported that the South Coast club could be kicked out of the play-offs if they are found guilty, which could, in turn, mean that Middlesbrough replace them in the final.

However, there is also the possibility that Southampton are found guilty of no offence, meaning that there is a vast range of possibilities for what could happen.

The key is that an independent commission, not the EFL, will decide what Saints' punishment will be, and that commission will also decide the timing of such a hearing.

Indeed, the commission is fully aware of the expediency required at the stage of the season, according to Sky Sports, given that the final is just over a week away.

Timing of Saints' potential punishment key to Middlesbrough's fate

Even if Southampton's charge is upheld, it does not mean that Boro would take their place in the play-off final.

However, the independent commission does have the power to impose whatever punishment they deem necessary, which could be anything from it being dismissed, a fine or a sporting sanction.

If the South Coasters are given a sporting sanction, then there is also a chance that it will not be imposed until the start of next season, when they will be competing either in the Premier League or Championship.

What needs to be established is whether there is enough evidence to suggest there was any wrongdoing, how bad that wrongdoing was, and whether it would be fair to strip them of potential promotion.

It is evident that Boro are not going to sit back and wait to see what transpires, though, as chairman Steve Gibson has hired Nick De Marco, a leading sports lawyer, as the case is expedited to a potential verdict before the final, according to The Telegraph.