EFL charges Southampton for alleged spying on Middlesbrough before play-off semi-final

The teams are scheduled to meet at Middlesbrough this Saturday, followed by the return fixture at St Marys on Tuesday.

"Southampton Football Club has been charged today with breaching EFL Regulations, and the case will go before an Independent Disciplinary Commission," stated the EFL.

"The charge stems from an EFL request for the clubs input following a Middlesbrough complaint about supposed unauthorised video recording on private land prior to their upcoming encounter on Saturday."

The EFL cited rules that prohibit teams from "watching or trying to watch another teams training within 72 hours before a match between them."

The organisation noted that Southampton typically gets 14 days to reply, but here it will urge the Independent Disciplinary Commission to schedule a hearing without delay.

Neither club has issued an immediate response.

Hull City and Millwall contested the other semi-final opening match on Friday, which finished without goals. Their return leg takes place in London on Monday.

Millwall ended the campaign in third place, Southampton fourth, Middlesbrough fifth, and Hull sixth.

League winners Coventry City along with second-placed Ipswich Town have earned direct promotion to the Premier League.