Southampton ‘Spygate’ punishments as Middlesbrough boss close to tears | Football | Sport

Southampton have been officially charged by the EFL following allegations of recording Middlesbrough’s private training sessions before their Championship play-off semi-final.

The club faces a potential expulsion from the play-offs, meaning they could be barred from the final at Wembley even after winning their semi-final.

Authorities may choose to forfeit the match result, potentially awarding Middlesbrough a 3-0 victory to rectify the alleged unfair advantage gained.

The EFL is reportedly favouring a sporting sanction rather than a simple financial fine, marking a stricter stance than previous spying incidents in the league.

If the club achieves promotion before a verdict, they could instead start next season with a significant points deduction penalty in the Premier League.

A formal disciplinary hearing is scheduled to take place urgently, with officials aiming to reach a final decision before the May 23 final.

Southampton CEO Phil Parsons confirmed the club is fully cooperating with the EFL investigation while conducting an internal review to understand the context of the filming.

Under rules established in 2019, it is a specific breach of EFL regulations to observe an opponent’s training within 72 hours of a scheduled match.

Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg was fighting back tears during his press conference on Tuesday night, as he labelled the incident a “disgrace,” suggesting the integrity of the competition was compromised by the presence of a spy at their Riverside training base.

While the club can appeal, the EFL intends to expedite the process to ensure the rightful team competes in the “richest game in football” at Wembley.