Southampton FC charged over alleged spying on Middlesbrough training session

Southampton Football Club has been been charged with breaking league rules over allegations it spied on its play-off opponents' training session.

The English Football League (ELF) had received a complaint from Middlesbrough of unauthorised filming by someone connected with Southampton, before the two sides' 0-0 draw at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday in the first-leg of a Championship play-off semi-final.

Southampton, who finished bottom of the Premier League last season, have been charged with a breach of EFL regulations.

An EFL statement on Friday 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."

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'We will be fully cooperating with the league'

In response to the charge, a Southampton spokesperson said: "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."

Leeds comparison

The nature of the allegations draw comparisons with an incident involving Leeds United in January 2019.

The EFL fined Leeds £200,000 for spying on a Derby training session before a game between the two clubs.

Then Leeds boss, Marcelo Bielsa, sent a spy to the Derby ground ahead of their match. He paid the fine himself.

NFL side, the New England Patriots, were infamously embroiled in a scandal named Spygate.

They were fined $250,000 (£183,000) and lost a first-round draft pick in 2007 for violating NFL rules against using video to steal player signals. Coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000 (£367,000).

Then in 2020, they were fined $1.1million (£808,000) and lost a third-round draft pick for inappropriately filming the Cincinnati Bengals sideline during a game.

'Why do you need to spy?'

Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic, whose side drew 0-0 with Millwall in Friday's other Championship semi-final play-off, said: "Why do you need to spy? We played already.

"I know everything about everything. What Middlesbrough will surprise (with?). He will put 14 players? What? Unbelievable. Really?"

Millwall manager, Alex Neil, said: "I would certainly comment on it if somebody from Hull was hiding in a tree videoing our training. Well, I might not have caught him yet!

"It doesn't affect us, so I'm not going to get involved in that conversation."

(c) Sky News 2026: Southampton FC charged over alleged spying on Middlesbrough training session