EFL charges Southampton over alleged spying before play-off clash with Middlesbrough
Southampton have been charged by the EFL (Getty)
Southampton Football Club has been charged by the EFL following a complaint from Middlesbrough regarding alleged unauthorised filming of their training session.
The alleged spying incident occurred ahead of the Championship play-off semi-final first leg between the two clubs, scheduled for Saturday.
The charges against Southampton relate to breaches of EFL Regulation 3.4, which mandates clubs to act with utmost good faith, and Regulation 127, which prohibits observing another club’s training within 72 hours of a match.
The matter will be referred to an Independent Disciplinary Commission, with the EFL requesting a shortened response period and an expedited hearing due to the nature of the complaint.
This situation echoes the 2019 “spygate” incident involving Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United, who were fined £200,000 by the EFL for similar conduct.
