Sky Sports News has obtained a photo that shows a man outside Middlesbrough’s training ground with a camera amid spying allegations against Southampton.
The picture has emerged following a complaint from Boro that a member of Southampton’s staff spied on one of their training sessions ahead of Saturday’s Championship play-off semi-final first leg between the two clubs.
Southampton were charged with breaching EFL regulations after Middlesbrough’s complaint. The matter is now being investigated by an Independent Disciplinary Commission.
Sky Sports News has chosen to blur the face of the man in the picture. Southampton declined to comment when asked about the photo.
Saints could be thrown out of play-offs
Southampton booked their place in the Championship play-off final on May 23 with a 2-1 win in extra time against Boro. But it is possible that Saints are thrown out and denied the chance of promotion to the Premier League if the charge is upheld.
But it is also possible that the commission decides Southampton are guilty of no offence, and that the charge is dismissed.
The timing of the hearing is down to the commission, but Sky Sports News has been told they are fully aware of the expediency needed at this stage of the season, with the play-off final fast approaching.
If the commission decides to impose a sporting sanction, it might be that the punishment is held over to the start of next season.
The key considerations for the commission are; is there enough evidence to establish wrongdoing? And is that wrongdoing worthy of a significant sporting sanction?
In essence, does the punishment fit the crime? Would it be a fair outcome if Southampton were denied possible promotion to the Premier League, with all the kudos and financial gain that brings, based on this alleged wrongdoing?
The commission has the independence and freedom to impose whatever sanction they deem appropriate. That could be anything from a charge dismissed, a slap on the wrist, a monetary fine, a sporting sanction, or even a sporting sanction which costs Southampton their place in the play-offs.
If the commission does not impose a sporting sanction, the timing of the play-offs is irrelevant.
Map showing location of Middlesbrough training ground (credit: Google Maps)
But we are in uncharted territory here. Yes, there is the precedent of what happened with Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United in 2019, whereby the club was fined £200,000, but the EFL rules have been changed as a result of that.
Rule 3.4 has been in place for many years – whereby clubs have to always deal with each other “in good faith” – that was the charge levelled at Leeds, that they had not done so.
But since 2019, rule 127 has been in place, which expressly 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 rules 3.4 and 127.
Sky Sports News has been told the EFL and the commission are aware that there are three teams with a vested interest in the resolution of this matter – Southampton, Middlesbrough and Hull, and that it is not just a matter of two of those teams being prepared to take part in the play-off final. But also the fans of the clubs, ticket sales, travel and other logistics need to be organised in good time too.
Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg match between Southampton and Middlesbrough.
That is why everyone wants a quick resolution to this, but the matter is in the hands of the independent commission and outside the EFL’s control.
Despite the ongoing investigation and the threat of being thrown out of the play-offs, Southampton are pressing ahead with plans for the play-off final. They have posted on X that information about tickets will be released on Wednesday afternoon, and tickets will go on sale on Thursday.
What are Boro’s plans amid ‘spygate’ investigation?
Sky Sports News’ Keith Downie:
Middlesbrough players are due to report back to their training ground on Thursday as planned.
Sky Sports’ Keith Downie explains how the alleged Southampton staff member was caught trying to observe a Middlesbrough training session.
The idea was always to give the players Wednesday off, and then return on Thursday for a debrief on the semi-final.
Had they reached the final, they would have been given the weekend off before reconvening on Monday to begin preparations for the play-off final.
In the event of Boro being eliminated, the players and staff would have been off on holiday from Friday. But that is up in the air at the moment, as the independent commission looks into the charge against Southampton.
