D-Day in Spygate case: What's at stake and what could happen?

"Southampton are due to walk out at Wembley to take on Hull City in the richest game in world football - the Championship play-off final. But the fate of the match is in the hands of an English Football League independent disciplinary commission. As the club's supporters, players and staff woke up on Tuesday morning, there was no guarantee that the game would happen. Instead, Tuesday is D-Day for the captivating Spygate story."

"Saints stand charged by the EFL with watching a Middlesbrough training session two days before the first leg of their play-off semi-final. Boro want Saints to be thrown out of the play-offs, arguing that spying on their preparation "goes to the heart of sporting integrity and fair competition". If Southampton are found guilty - and they have not issued any kind of denial - then all options are on the table for the independent disciplinary commission."

"The supposed spy, allegedly a Southampton analyst, is said to have parked at the golf club, then walked a couple of hundred yards down a road which leads to a raised area of ground. Sources told the BBC that the accused simply stood pointing his mobile at the training session, while wearing in-ear headphones. Middlesbrough staff believe he may have been live-streaming the session via a video call."

"A member of Middlesbrough's staff approached, say BBC sources, but the person would not identify himself. Then, he quickly deleted some content off his phone before running off into the golf club. He jogged into the toilets, changed his clothes and hurriedly left the site."

Southampton are scheduled to play Hull City at Wembley in the Championship play-off final, but the match’s fate depends on an English Football League independent disciplinary commission. A disciplinary hearing is expected after Southampton were charged with watching a Middlesbrough training session two days before the first leg of their semi-final. Middlesbrough argue the alleged spying undermines sporting integrity and fair competition. If Southampton are found guilty, multiple outcomes are possible, and no denial has been issued. The decision may come on Tuesday or could extend into Wednesday depending on deliberations. The alleged incident occurred at Middlesbrough’s Rockliffe Park training base on 7 May, when a Southampton analyst was accused of pointing a mobile at the session while wearing in-ear headphones, potentially live-streaming it, then deleting content and leaving quickly.

Read at www.bbc.com