Middlesbrough demand Southampton are expelled from playoffs over spygate

Middlesbrough have demanded that the English Football League expel Southampton from the Championship playoff final against Hull and are furious at being denied a chance to argue their case at an independent disciplinary hearing.

Southampton, who beat Middlesbrough 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-final, are facing EFL misconduct charges after Boro said they had been the victims of training-ground spying.

An independent disciplinary commission is due to hear Southampton’s explanation in person by Tuesday at the latest. There are suggestions it could sit over the weekend.

Middlesbrough had hoped to attend but their evidence is now with the EFL, which, as is standard practice in such cases, will present its case against Southampton to the commission. Potential sanctions open to that panel range from fines to points deductions and expulsion from the playoffs.

In a statement on Friday Middlesbrough said: “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 conduct at issue, namely the observation and recording of our training session ahead of a fixture of such significance (last Saturday’s semi final first leg) goes to the heart of sporting integrity and fair competition. In these circumstances the only appropriate response is a sporting sanction which would prevent Southampton FC from participating in the EFL Championship playoff final.

“We remain hopeful that the EFL, as a regulator, will pursue such a sanction before the disciplinary commission in order to protect the integrity of the game, safeguard all member clubs and deter any attempt in the future to to obtain an unfair and unlawful advantage in pursuit of promotion to the Premier League.”

Although Southampton have the right to appeal against the commission’s decision, Middlesbrough do not.

There is uncertainty as to whether the showpiece final will take place as scheduled next Saturday and an expatriate Hull supporter who has spent about £2,000 to attend Wembley next Saturday after travelling from Melbourne, Australia is understandably upset to learn it could be moved to another date.

Jack Gorbert, a former Hull season ticket holder, said the EFL has “no regard for fans”. Once Hull beat Millwall in their semi-final Gorbert immediately booked flights to London. “There’s no way I was going to miss out,” he said. “I’d probably sell a kidney if I had to.

“What’s happened is absolutely crazy. I’ve spoken to one fan who is coming from Sydney and someone else coming from Peru. But it’s not just that, it’s fans in Hull booking trains and hotels and paying disgraceful prices.