“I haven’t planned anything” – Boro boss Hellberg on possible Southampton ban after playoff semi-final defeat

The South Coast side have request more time to conduct an internal investigation on the incident, yet this might not be granted with the possibility of a similar fine, point deduction, or worse depending on the EFL’s ruling.

It was a lightening quick start from the visitors, which they couldn’t follow up on to kill the game as Southampton continued to build and were rewarded with the equalizer before the break.

Hellberg made sure to praise his team’s dominant first-half performance before being quizzed on ‘Spygate 2.0’, as their wait for a return to Wembley for the first time since 2015 goes on.

The Swede said: “I am unbelievably proud of how the players played, [to] fight through two games.

“It was tough, of course. I think we played a very good first half, unbelievably good, had chances to go for two and then they score just before half time from a free kick.

“We fight with everyone, we played a very good team, massive squad [with] top quality players. To go here and dominate the first half in that way, with that crowd, it was very, very impressive.

The 38-year-old offered congratulations to the players and supporters of Southampton, despite some fans arriving at the tie dressed in camouflage and wearing binoculars amid the off-pitch controversy.

As it stands, Southampton are set to face Hull City in the playoff final on Saturday 23rd of May.