Portsmouth rivals Southampton charged with spying on Middlesbrough ahead of play-off semi-finals
Pompey rivals Southampton are in trouble after ‘spygate’ ahead of play-off semi-final against Middlesbrough
Pompey’s arch-rivals, Southampton, have been charged after breaching of English Football League (EFL) regulations.
The St Mary’s outfit have found themselves in trouble with the footballing authorities after being accused of spying on a Middlesbrough training session ahead of their Championship play-off semi-final first-leg tie at the Riverside Stadium today (12.30pm).
This week the EFL received a complaint from Boro over unauthorised filming by someone connected to Southampton during a training session.
In January 2019, Leeds were fined £200,000 by the league for spying on a Derby County training session after breaching EFL Regulations 3.4 and 127, which require clubs to act ‘with the utmost good faith’ and prohibits members from observing or attempting to observes another team’s training session.
A similar punishment now lies in wait for Southampton if they too are found to have broken the rules.
A statement issued by the EFL on Friday night read: ‘Southampton Football Club has today been charged with a breach of EFL Regulations, and the matter will be referred to an Independent Disciplinary Commission.
‘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 Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final first leg.
‘The charges relate to the following Regulations: EFL Regulation 3.4, which requires clubs to act towards each other with the utmost good faith; and 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.
‘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.
‘The League will make no further comment whilst proceedings are ongoing.’
In response to the charge, a Saints statement read: ‘Southampton Football Club acknowledges the statement issued by the EFL in relation to alleged breaches of EFL Regulations.
‘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.’
Southampton find themselves in the play-offs after finishing the Championship season in fourth position. That’s despite being held to two draws in their south-coast derbies against Pompey at both St Mary’s and Fratton Park respectively.
Manager Will Still was sacked by Saints in November after registering just two win in his 13 matches in charge.
Their fortunes have changed under German Tonda Eckert, but he was denied victory at Fratton back in January, after Ebou Adams’s 77th-minute header canceled out Léo Scienza’s opener.
Whether south-coast derby rivalries resume next season will depend on how Southampton fare in the play-offs.
The second leg for their tie against Middlesbrough will be played at St Mary’s on Tuesday.
The Championship play-off final will be played at Wembley on Saturday, May 23.
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