Middlesbrough has openly declared their desire for Southampton to be barred from the EFL Championship play-off final due to the contentious ‘Spygate’ incident.
In a surprising announcement on Friday, Middlesbrough insisted that excluding the Saints is the sole viable action concerning an issue that strikes at the core of fair play and sporting integrity.
The controversy, initially reported by Daily Mail Sport last Thursday, involves a Southampton analyst allegedly caught covertly recording Middlesbrough’s practice session from behind a tree before their scoreless play-off semi-final first leg. As a result, the EFL charged Southampton with rule violations on Friday night.
Middlesbrough’s official statement expressed, “Middlesbrough FC acknowledges the Disciplinary Commission’s decision to dismiss the club’s attempt to intervene in the EFL’s proceedings against Southampton FC.”
The club voiced disappointment with this outcome, emphasizing their direct involvement and possession of pertinent evidence regarding the incident’s competitive implications.
‘The conduct at issue, namely the observation and recording of our training session ahead of a fixture of such significance, goes to the heart of sporting integrity and fair competition. In these circumstances, the only appropriate response is a sporting sanction which would prevent Southampton FC from participating in the EFL Championship play-off final.
Southampton must be thrown out of the play-offs for their spying scandal, say Middlesbrough
‘We remain hopeful that the EFL, as regulator, will pursue such a sanction before the Disciplinary Commission in order to protect the integrity of the game, safeguard all member clubs, and deter any attempt in the future to obtain an unfair and unlawful advantage in pursuit of promotion to the Premier League.
‘The club reserves all its legal rights.’
Saints won Tuesday’s Championship play-off return leg 2-1 to set up a Wembley date versus Hull City on May 23, but that is now in doubt.
An independent commission will decide on the Saints’ punishment by next week, leaving the date and location of the final and the identity of Hull’s opponents uncertain.
Daily Mail Sport exclusively revealed on Wednesday that the individual involved has been identified as Southampton intern William Salt.
Salt, say sources, is a key part of Eckert’s first-team operation and highly valued by the German.
Salt was one of 10 Southampton staff members pictured with boss Tonda Eckert at the start of March, after the German coach was named as the Championship’s Manager of the Month for February.
Southampton beat eventual Championship winners Coventry City 2-1 that weekend.
William Salt, circled, is pictured with manager Tonda Eckert to mark February’s Manager of the Month award
Salt, however, was not present on the picture of Eckert and his backroom staff released last Thursday to mark April’s Manager of the Month award.
It was the same day that Salt was pictured at Boro’s training base, before being confronted by club staff and fleeing the area after running into a nearby golf club and changing clothes in the toilet.
Salt was also the only staff member absent when Eckert posed with his backroom team when he won the divisional prize for March.
The picture was released to media on April 9.
Daily Mail Sport understands the analyst, formerly of Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, used his bank card last Thursday to buy a coffee at Rockliffe Hall Golf Club – owned by Boro chairman Steve Gibson.
The apparent slip has given rise to the possibility of a paper trail across the country, with transactions close to the bases of other Championship clubs in the days prior to playing Southampton.
Middlesbrough’s legal team are pushing for bank statements and electronic devices to be handed over as part of the case, given they could provide a paper trail of unsporting espionage around the country.
We understand that one Championship club believe they were spied on after changing manager before playing Eckert’s side in December. CCTV is being reviewed. Since being appointed Saints boss in November, Eckert’s team have the second-best record from set-pieces in the Championship.
Southampton ultimately beat Middlesbrough 2-1 on aggregate to reach the play-off final, which is scheduled for next Saturday at Wembley
If it is proven that Southampton spied on opposition teams on several occasions, as a whistleblower is thought to have indicated in a statement to be used in evidence, then Tonda Eckert’s side would likely be removed from the competition and Boro would take their place in the final.
Ahead of the second leg of the play-off semi-final, Southampton chief executive Phil Parsons had stressed it was ‘important that the full context is established before conclusions are drawn’ as the club conducted an internal review.
On Thursday, the EFL provided an update on the date of the hearing, while warning the outcome of the case could ‘result in changes’ to the play-off final.
The EFL statement read: ‘The Independent Disciplinary Commission hearing will take place on or before Tuesday 19 May. The exact date remains under discussion and is expected to be confirmed shortly.
‘The Commission will issue its decision as soon as possible following consideration of the relevant submissions and evidence. As the proceedings are being conducted by an Independent Disciplinary Commission, the EFL does not control the proposed timetable.
‘Notwithstanding this, the EFL continues to plan on the basis that the Championship Play-Off Final will take place as scheduled on Saturday 23 May, with the kick-off time confirmed as 4.30pm. Supporters should, however, be aware that the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture. The EFL has a number of contingency plans should they be required, which also includes consideration of any appeal process, if required.’
Southampton and Hull City both began ticket sales for the final on Friday.