EFL confirm Spygate 2.0 Judgement Day as Hull prepare for potential play-off final change

The EFL has confirmed a hearing into Southampton’s conduct during the Championship play-offs will happen by Tuesday.

An independent commission is reviewing evidence that Hull’s play-off final opponents Southampton sent intern Will Salt to secretly film a Middlesbrough training session ahead of the semi-finals.

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If the commission decide Saints are guilty, they could be subject to sporting sanctions, including being thrown out of the Wembley final.

This would almost certainly lead to a legal challenge from the south coast side, threatening to delay the final, scheduled for Saturday May 23.

Boro players returned to their training ground on Thursday and are expected to continue training in anticipation of being reinstated for the final.

Owner Steve Gibson is consulting with super lawyer Nick De Marco over the Teesside club’s next course of action.

The EFL have since offered some clarity on the matter, insisting that the final is still scheduled to kick off at 4:30pm on May 23.

However, this could change subject to the outcome of the commission.

EFL statement

In a statement released on Thursday, the EFL said: “The Independent Disciplinary Commission hearing will take place on or before Tuesday 19 May.

“The exact date remains under discussion and is expected to be confirmed shortly.

“The Commission will issue its decision as soon as possible following consideration of the relevant submissions and evidence.

“As the proceedings are being conducted by an Independent Disciplinary Commission, the EFL does not control the proposed timetable.

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“Notwithstanding this, the EFL continues to plan on the basis that the Championship Play-Off Final will take place as scheduled on Saturday 23 May, with the kick-off time confirmed as 4:30pm.

“Supporters should, however, be aware that the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture.

“The EFL has a number of contingency plans should they be required, which also includes consideration of any appeal process, if required.”

Hull made it to the play-off final after two legs against Millwall.

The Lions started both games as favourites after just missing out on automatic promotion on the final day.

The first tie at Hull ended 0-0, with very few chances for either side, but it seemed a draw favoured the visitors.

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The Den was rocking a few days later as Hull made the journey to south London to take on Alex Neil‘s side.

But it was the Tigers who came away with the victory thanks to one moment of quality from Mohamed Belloumi, who curled home a lovely effort from just inside the box in the second half.

There was then a terrible mistake from Anthony Patterson to gift Joe Gelhardt a goal that sealed Hull’s place in the play-off final next weekend.

The Tigers haven’t been in the Premier League since the 2016/17 campaign and were tipped for relegation this year, so it has been a remarkable campaign.

There they are expecting to face Southampton, but that could change.

Spygate 2.0

Saints have been charged by the EFL for breaching their regulations after Salt was spotted filming Boro’s training session ahead of the first leg of the play-off semi-final between the two clubs.

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Middlesbrough believe they aren’t the only team that Saints have spied on this year either, and are keeping their players in training.

Southampton are also yet to release any ticket information for the play-off final amid the possibility there are sporting sanctions.

They could include being kicked out of the play-offs or a points deduction for the next time they are in England’s second tier.

Again, the first leg ended 0-0, but in extra time, Shea Charles scored late on to take Southampton into the final at Boro’s expense.

They won the tie 2-1, though, there was more controversy with Taylor Harwood-Bellis alleged to have said something offensive towards Luke Ayling. It’s understood Ayling has opted not to take the matter further, however.

There are calls for Saints to be kicked out of the play-offs, but talkSPORT’s Gabby Agbonlahor doesn’t agree.

Talking about it on talkSPORT Breakfast, he said: “I don’t agree with it. It’s overkill.

“I get it, Spygate, it’s not on. But what would they really learn from watching Middlesbrough training?

“That’s why it’s so bizarre from Southampton. What are you going to learn that you can’t see in every video of Middlesbrough’s games this season?

“They’re by far the better team for me, it’s very odd.

“They say there’s a chance of Middlesbrough going [into the play-off final], it’s not going to happen.

“It’s too much of a short turnaround.

“Southampton players haven’t done anything, fans haven’t done anything, it’s the club, the manager that’s allowed that to happen.

“A massive fine and move on, I don’t think you can start saying Boro get the final or Hull go straight up.”