Middlesbrough have formally requested that Southampton be removed from the Championship play-offs following allegations of espionage. The EFL charged Southampton last Friday with observing a training session at Middlesbrough's Rockliffe Park complex, just two days before the two teams met in the play-off semi-final first leg.
Middlesbrough's Statement
In a statement released on Friday, Middlesbrough confirmed they had sought to participate in the independent commission hearing but were denied that opportunity. The club expressed deep regret over this outcome, emphasizing their direct involvement and possession of relevant evidence regarding the incident and its competitive impact.
“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 statement read. “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.”
Call for Sanction
Middlesbrough argued that the only appropriate response is a sporting sanction that would prevent Southampton from participating in the EFL Championship play-off final. The Teesside club believes that the spying incident undermines the fairness of the competition and demands severe consequences to uphold integrity.
