SOUTHAMPTON could be forced to FORFEIT their place in the Championship play-off final if they are found guilty of spying on Middlesbrough.
The Saints booked their spot at Wembley on Tuesday with a dramatic 2-1 win over Boro in the second leg of the semi-final.
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Southampton reached the Championship play-off final with a 2-1 win against Middlesbrough Credit: Reuters
However, the Saints could be forced to FORFEIT their place in the Championship play-off final if they are found guilty of spying Credit: Getty
However, their hopes of returning to the Premier League could be dashed because of the spying incident that took place last week.
A man, believed to be a Southampton first-team analyst, was allegedly spotted hiding in a bush and recording a Middlesbrough training session on Thursday.
Club staff approached the male, who refused to identify himself before deleting pictures and footage.
He then made a sharp exit from the training ground and darted to the toilets of a neighbouring hotel, owned by Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson, to change clothes before leaving the area.
Southampton 2 Middlesbrough 1
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Southampton were subsequently charged by the EFL for a breach of regulations.
The two charges are: EFL regulation 3.4, which requires clubs to act towards each other with the utmost good faith and EFL regulation 127, which prohibits any club from observing, or attempting to observe, another club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match between the two clubs.
The EFL is currently in the process of investigating the incident.
But should the Saints be found guilty, they could be expelled from the play-offs.
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The Times reports that Southampton will likely face a sporting sanction rather than a fine if they are found guilty.
EFL officials are hoping to complete a hearing and any subsequent appeal process before the play-off final on May 23 – although an independent panel will have the final say.
It means there is potential for Middlesbrough to be involved in the Wembley clash.
Kim Hellberg could therefore keep his players in training until a final decision is made.
Following the semi-final second-leg, the Boro head coach said: “We had a plan if we won the game and we haven’t so now I’m disappointed.
“Congratulations to the players and the supporters of Southampton for the winner.”
Meanwhile, Southampton boss Tonda Eckert admitted when asked about the row: “We’ve had this topic the last time. It’s not easy to speak about this ongoing investigation.
“When the time comes I’ll say something but not now. We do everything we can for the game coming up.”
An EFL insider told JattvibeSport that no decisions have been taken with the disciplinary commission yet to meet, but all options will be on the table when it does – if the charges are proven.
