Southampton face further scrutiny as Middlesbrough 'approached by other clubs over spy fears'

Southampton could face further scrutiny over spying allegations amid claims that Middlesbrough have been 'approached by other Championship clubs' who have suspicions they too may have been affected. Saints' play-off semi-final with Boro was preceded by allegations that an analyst was spotted recording first-team training at the latter's Rockcliffe Park training base. Southampton have since been hit with an FA misconduct charge and tensions were palpable during the two sides' first meeting on Saturday, which ended 0-0. The charge will be heard by an independent disciplinary commission in the next fortnight, with the second leg of their play-off semi-final to be played on Tuesday evening. However, it has now emerged that Middlesbrough are not alone in suspecting Southampton may have spied on training sessions during their impressive renaissance under Tonda Eckert. The Guardian report that Middlesbrough have been approached by rival clubs in the division, while others have shared their 'surprise' with the publication over how Southampton managed to astutely deal with 'unexpected team shapes' and set-piece routines during the remarkable 19-match unbeaten run that helped propel them to a top-six finish. The report does, however, go on to reason that may be down to the tactical nous of Eckert, who has earned plenty of plaudits for the impressive work he has done since becoming Saints' head coach. In terms of precedent for spying, Leeds were fined £200,000 back in 2019 after a member of Marcelo Bielsa's staff was spotted sitting in a tree observing Derby County during a training session ahead of a Championship fixture. At the time, the EFL had no specific rule around anti-spying. But that has since changed meaning Southampton could face a range of sanctions, from a fine to expulsion from a competition. Kim Hellberg, the Middlesbrough head coach, pulled no punches in his post-match conference at the weekend, where he accused Southampton of cheating. "I couldn't believe my eyes or ears when I heard it," he said. "I couldn't believe it when they told me for the second time, or the third. But it was quite clear that they [Southampton] tried [to spy]. "I'm not putting anything on the players or supporters of Southampton. I think they are brilliant, unbelievable. They have nothing to do with it and I sometimes feel sorry for them because they get thrown this in the face. "But there's someone who makes decisions to go and try to cheat. That's clear." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.