Middlesbrough have reportedly caught a Southampton first-team analyst allegedly recording their training session from a bush, in a sensational repeat of the Marcelo Bielsa 'spygate' furore. Daily Mail Sport can reveal that an individual was spotted and approached by club staff on Thursday morning at Boro's Rockliffe Park training centre, 48 hours before Kim Hellberg's side host Tonda Eckert's Saints in the Championship play-off semi-final first leg.
It is claimed the male deleted video and pictures from his mobile phone and refused to identify himself. He then left the site of the training ground and made his way into the nearby Rockliffe Hall Hotel, owned by Boro chairman Steve Gibson, before changing clothes in a toilet and leaving the area. It is understood Boro have contacted the EFL, given spying on opposition training would breach the League's rules.
We are aware of the individual allegedly involved and his public profile pages identify him as a current employee of Southampton. The remarkable incident, which is being investigated by the EFL, has all the hallmarks of Bielsa's time at Leeds when he instructed a colleague to snoop on Derby County's training ahead of a Championship game in 2019. The Argentine boss admitted to being behind the plan.
Leeds were fined £200,000 and reprimanded by the EFL after the club admitted a breach of Regulation 3.4, which states: 'In all matters and transactions relating to the League, each club shall behave towards each other club and The League with the utmost good faith.' Then EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey said: 'The sanctions imposed highlight how actions such as this cannot be condoned and act as a clear deterrent should any club seek to undertake poor conduct in the future.'
A new rule was introduced that prohibited teams from viewing opposition training in the 72 hours prior to a match, unless invited to do so. Middlesbrough did not comment when approached by Daily Mail Sport. Southampton have been approached for comment.
An EFL spokesperson said: 'The EFL has written to Southampton FC requesting their observations following a complaint from Middlesbrough FC relating to alleged unauthorised filming ahead of the two Clubs meeting in Saturday's Championship Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg. The alleged incident is said to have taken place on Middlesbrough's private property by an individual identified to be associated with Southampton. The League is treating this matter as potential misconduct under EFL Regulations and will be making no further comment at this time.'
