Middlesbrough have reported an alleged Southampton ‘spy’ to the English Football League (EFL) after the individual was caught secretly recording their training session ahead of the Championship playoff semi-final. The incident occurred at Boro’s Rockliffe Park training centre, where staff spotted a man hiding in the bushes.
The man was believed to be filming Middlesbrough’s preparations for Saturday’s first-leg clash at the Riverside Stadium. When confronted, he deleted video and photos from his phone but refused to identify himself. He then left the site and reportedly changed clothes at the nearby Rockliffe Hall Hotel. Middlesbrough have alerted the EFL and are investigating the matter.
EFL Rules on Spying
EFL regulations prohibit Championship clubs from viewing an upcoming opponent’s training sessions within 72 hours of a match unless invited. This rule was implemented after Leeds United’s Marcelo Bielsa admitted to spying on Derby County in 2019, resulting in a £200,000 fine for Leeds.
Managers’ Reactions
Neither manager referenced the spying incident in their pre-match comments. Boro boss Kim Hellberg said: “It will be two very good games of football… between two attack-minded teams.” Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert acknowledged their 4-0 defeat to Boro in January but stressed his side’s improvement: “We are a very different team… we have taken some massive steps forward.”
