Middlesbrough's Kim Hellberg on spying row: 'Someone made a decision to cheat'

Birmingham CityBlackburn RoversBristol CityCharlton AthleticCoventry CityDerby CountyHull CityIpswich TownLeicester CityMiddlesbroughMillwallNorwich CityPortsmouthPreston North EndQueens Park RangersSheffield UnitedSheffield WednesdaySouthamptonStoke CitySwansea CityWatfordWest Bromwich AlbionWrexhamScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsAnalysisMiddlesbrough’s Kim Hellberg on spying row: ‘Someone made a decision to cheat’Kim Hellberg and Tonda Eckert on the touchline at the Riverside stadium Andy Commins/PA Images via Getty Images Share articleMiddlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg used the term “cheat” when asked about a member of Southampton’s staff being caught at Boro’s training ground on Thursday morning, just 48 hours before the Championship play-off semi-final between the two clubs. Hellberg said: “Someone made a decision to go and try to cheat, that’s clear.” Southampton were charged on Friday by the EFL with “a breach of EFL regulations” following a complaint from Middlesbrough on Thursday evening. Southampton say they are “co-operating” with the EFL. Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert cut short his post-match press conference at the Riverside Stadium, having declined to answer fully questions on the subject. “The club has made a statement yesterday evening,” he said, “and that’s all there is to say at the moment.” Asked more than once to expand, Eckert replied: “I’ve said more than enough.” Shortly after, Hellberg sat in the same chair and was asked about his reaction when he first heard an opposing staff member had been filming their training session on a phone with earphones attached. “It was a weird situation,” Hellberg said. “I couldn’t believe my eyes or ears when I heard it. I couldn’t believe it when they told me for the second time or the third, but then it was quite clear that they… and with ‘they’, I’m not putting anything on the players or supporters of Southampton. They are brilliant and had nothing to do with it. I sometimes feel sorry for them because they get this thrown in their face. “But someone made a decision to go and try to cheat, that’s clear. “I’ve seen some people talking about it not being a big advantage because you can see the games on film, but it is a massive advantage… If you took that game today, we’d never used that shape that we used in the first half. That was impossible to know from whatever game you watch. Set plays, goal kicks… It’s just unfair, and everyone would agree with that. We will see what happens.” The Athletic have contacted Southampton for comment. This first leg on Teesside ended 0-0. The second leg is at Southampton’s St Mary’s stadium on Tuesday night and Eckert’s side will be favourites to progress to a Wembley final and the potential £200million ($273m) prize of promotion to the Premier League. Middlesbrough will seek a quick judgment from the EFL and may not leave the matter there. “Under EFL Regulations, Southampton would ordinarily have 14 days to respond to the charges,” the EFL said in a statement. “However, given the nature of the matter, the EFL will ask the Independent Disciplinary Commission to shorten the response period and to list a hearing at the earliest opportunity.” In 2019 Leeds United were fined £200,000 after a member of Marcelo Bielsa’s backroom staff had been found spying on their next league opponents Derby County. The financial stakes in a Championship play-off are considerably greater. “Who will get the fine (payment)?” Hellberg asked. “Should they just pay the EFL? So, they see everything we do — and that’s OK? “I just think it’s weird they do that and try to cheat in this type of game. I know Bielsa paid £200,000, but that was not the law then. A lot of clubs will pay that amount to try to get an advantage by seeing you in the two sessions before a game. If it’s a game of this magnitude, clubs would pay that, but it’s not legal, so they should not do it.” Hellberg, a calm individual, said he had been angered by Southampton’s action and he was notably cool when exchanging a pre-match handshake with Eckert. It was slightly more cordial on the final whistle. “Anger,” Hellberg said, when talking about his emotions, “but also we have respect between each other. There’s respect between each other that they have totally failed in. And again, with they, I am talking about those who did it, not the club or anything like that. “That makes me disappointed. I would never (do that). It’s a big game, but you have to try to get an advantage in a fair way. Things can happen in the heat of the moment — let’s say it’s a dive that decides the game and tricks the referee, well at least that happens in the heat of the moment. “This is something where they planned absolutely everything to try to come away with it.” Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms