Middlesbrough call for Southampton to be kicked out of Championship play-off final
Middlesbrough say the “only appropriate response” to Southampton being caught spying at their training ground is for the south coast club to be removed from the Championship play-off final.
Middlesbrough officials allegedly caught a Southampton staff member covertly filming their training session just 48 hours before the first leg of their play-off semi-final last Saturday.
Boro staff reportedly spotted the individual, identified as a Saints analyst, observing from a public area overlooking their Rockliffe Park base.
Saints won the second leg 2-1 after extra-time to qualify for the final against Hull City.
That game, scheduled for May 23, is now in doubt after the EFL opened disciplinary proceedings against Southampton with a raft of possible sanctions available to them.
Boro believe it is quite simple and outlined their case for the Saints’ expulsion in a statement this afternoon.
It read: “Middlesbrough FC notes the decision of the Disciplinary Commission not to permit the club to intervene in the proceedings brought by the EFL against Southampton FC.
“The club regrets that outcome, given we are directly affected by the matters under consideration and hold relevant factual evidence as to the events in question and their competitive impact.
“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.”
more to follow
