The English Soccer League (EFL) has launched an investigation into an alleged case of spying by Southampton on Middlesbrough earlier than they meet within the Championship play-offs.
The primary leg of their semi-final takes place on the Riverside Stadium on Saturday, with the return at St Mary’s on Tuesday.
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BBC Sport has discovered Saints’ efficiency analyst was allegedly caught recording Boro coaching and taking footage of techniques late on Thursday morning.
The workers member was caught, informed to delete the footage and depart the world, however the Teesside membership have been livid and later contacted the EFL.
An EFL assertion launched on Thursday night learn: “The EFL has written to Southampton FC requesting their observations following a grievance from Middlesbrough FC referring to alleged unauthorised filming forward of the 2 golf equipment assembly in Saturday’s Championship play-off semi-final first leg.
“The alleged incident is claimed to have taken place on Middlesbrough’s personal property by a person recognized to be related to Southampton.
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“The League is treating this matter as potential misconduct beneath EFL laws and will probably be making no additional remark presently.”
Southampton have been approached for remark.
EFL guidelines state “no membership shall instantly or not directly observe (or try to look at) one other membership’s coaching session within the interval of 72 hours previous to any match”.
It was introduced in seven years in the past after by the EFL for watching opponents practice earlier than matches.
A member of Leeds’ workers was discovered appearing suspiciously exterior Derby’s coaching floor earlier than a fixture between the 2 sides on 10 January, 2019.
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Boss Marcelo Bielsa revealed he had despatched a member of workers to look at coaching periods of each group Leeds had performed that season.
The EFL discovered Leeds breached guidelines over treating groups with “good religion”.