Southampton charged with spying on Middlesbrough training before playoff semi

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Martin Macdonald | Writer

Content writer covering football, formula 1 and movies

Southampton have been charged by the English Football League for sending a performance analyst to spy on Middlesbrough's training ahead of the Championship semi-final playoff on Saturday.

After finishing fourth and fifth in the league, respectively, Southampton and Boro will take each other on over two semi-final legs on Saturday and then on Tuesday. The winner will face the winner of the other semi between Hull and Millwall.

The Saints attempted to gain an advantage by sending a spy to record Middlesbrough's training but the perpetrator was quickly caught and the footage was deleted.

"Southampton Football Club has today been charged with a breach of EFL regulations, and the matter will be referred to an independent disciplinary commission," the EFL said in a statement on Friday.

"This follows a request from the EFL for the club's observations after a complaint from Middlesbrough relating to alleged unauthorised filming on private property ahead of the two clubs' meeting in Saturday's Championship play-off semi-final first leg.

"Under EFL regulations, Southampton would ordinarily have 14 days to respond to the charges. However, given the nature of the matter, the EFL will ask the independent disciplinary commission to shorten the response period and to list a hearing at the earliest opportunity."

Southampton are accused of breaking two regulations:

EFL Regulation 3.4, which requires clubs to act towards each other with the utmost good faith

EFL Regulation 127, which prohibits any club from observing, or attempting to observe, another club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match between the two clubs

The club "acknowledges the statement issued by the EFL in relation to alleged breaches of EFL regulations".

It added: "We can confirm that we will be fully cooperating with the league throughout this process. Given the ongoing nature of the matter, the club is unable to comment any further at this time."

Middlesbrough train in Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth-on-Tees, just outside Darlington. While other teams may have a training ground away from prying eyes, this one is in full view of the public as it's part of a luxury spa and golf resort built by club owner, Steve Gibson.

The Southampton performance analyst brazenly stood at the top of a small hill and began a video call, live streaming the Boro training before a Boro member of staff approached him.

He ran away, got changed in the dressing room inside the golf resort, and quickly left the premises.

However, CCTV and a description from the Boro member of staff allowed the perperator to be identified on Southampton's staff roster on their website.

This isn't the first time this has happened in the Championship, of course, as Leeds were famously fined £200,000 by the EFL after manager Marcelo Bielsa admitted that he had sent scouts to watch the training of every single one of Leeds' opponents in the 2018/19 season.