The English Football League has launched an investigation into allegations that a member of the Southampton staff was caught filming a private training session in Middlesbrough ahead of the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final on Saturday (May 9).
“The EFL has written to Southampton FC requesting their comments following a complaint from Middlesbrough FC regarding alleged unauthorized filming ahead of the two clubs’ meeting in Saturday’s Championship play-off semi-final first leg,” an EFL spokesperson told Southampton daily The Southern Daily Echo.
“The alleged incident is said to have taken place on private property in Middlesbrough by an individual identified as having links to Southampton.
“The league is treating this matter as potential misconduct under EFL regulations and will make no further comment at this time.”
BBC Sports reported that a Southampton performance analyst was caught recording training and photographing Middlesbrough tactics on Thursday morning, two days before Saturday’s first leg at the Riverside Stadium. The analyst was told to delete the footage and leave the area.
The competition’s rules prohibit clubs from observing or attempting to observe another club’s training in the 72 hours before a match.
Southampton was not immediately available for comment.
Published on May 8, 2026
