EFL warned ‘nuclear explosion’ is coming if Southampton beat Middlesbrough in play-offs

Simon Jordan fears the EFL could have a ‘nuclear explosion’ on its hands should Southampton progress to the Championship play-off final.

Southampton’s play-off semi-final tie against Middlesbrough has been overshadowed by allegations of spying by the Saints.

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Worryingly for Southampton, talkSPORT understands a number of their Championship rivals are studying CCTV footage to assess whether they too have fallen victim to the spying scandal.

The club has since been charged by the EFL and, per a statement from Southampton CEO Phil Parsons, ‘fully cooperating with the EFL and the Disciplinary Commission’.

Parsons also confirmed an internal review has been launched ‘to ensure that all facts and context are properly understood’ but requested additional time for that review to be completed ‘given the intensity of the fixture schedule’.

The spying allegations added a new level of drama to the tie, with Boro fans mocking their rivals during the first leg on Saturday which ended 0-0.

With the fate of Southampton and Middlesbrough’s season set to come down to the second leg on Tuesday evening at St Mary’s, there is far more than just a spot in the play-off final at Wembley that awaits.

Speaking on Tuesday’s edition of White and Jordan, the former Crystal Palace owner called for both teams to reach some sort of resolution.

But in the absence of a solution, Jordan fears all hell could break loose at the EFL’s headquarters.

Simon Jordan’s verdict on ‘SpyGate 2.0’

“In my mind, I think they’re guilty of a person either being directly instructed by someone in the Southampton organisation or someone that has operated in a way that has benefitted Southampton in one way or another,” Jordan said.

“I don’t think the chairman or chief executive are involved, but I certainly think the football operation is. That’s my view.

“That then means that there has to be some degree of relationship between the two clubs to either find a solution or you’re going to have a nuclear explosion.

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“Based on Southampton’s statement, I think you’re probably going to have a nuclear explosion from Middlesbrough.”

Jordan added: “It’s not Middlesbrough’s problem to legislate for the scheduling issues.

“It is someone else’s problem now to find a satisfactory resolution in the event that everything that’s been alleged about Southampton, from this instance to a systemic.

“If it gets worse, if it’s an isolated instance, Middlesbrough are still the victims of an instance and they still have a very significant claim.

“If it’s an instance that’s been repeated by a systemic behavioural pattern, where does it stop? Because it doesn’t just become Middlesbrough, does it. It becomes other teams.”

Boro’s £200m reason to be furious

Should Middlesbrough go on to win the play-off semi-final tie over Southampton, Jordan acknowledged there would be ‘less consequence’ for the Saints.

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However, if Southampton progress, Middlesbrough could have 200million reasons to be furious.

“There’s a harm because it breaches the code and ethics of the game and the morality of the game,” Jordan said.

“I suspect Middlesbrough might still want to give them a smack because they’ll potentially look at Southampton’s responses as lacking integrity. But there’s less of a consequence.

“If Middlesbrough go out this evening, then they are potentially £200m worse off.”

talkSPORT will cover all the action from St Mary’s with live commentary from Jim Proudfoot and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto.

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