Could Southampton be kicked out of play-offs over Spygate?

"“If we hadn't caught that man that they sent up five hours to drive, you would sit there and say well done [to Southampton] in the tactical aspect of the game and I would go home and feel like I've failed,” Hellberg said. “When that is taken away from you - 'we're not going to watch every game, we're going to send someone instead and film the sessions and hope they don't get caught' - it breaks my heart in terms of all the things I believe in.”"

"Hellberg was referencing the Spygate scandal, with Saints charged by the English Football League with breaking rules by observing one of his final training sessions before last Saturday's first leg at the Riverside. “If we hadn't caught that man that they sent up five hours to drive, you would sit there and say well done [to Southampton] in the tactical aspect of the game and I would go home and feel like I've failed,” Hellberg said."

"But there is a lot to resolve before Southampton get to take on Hull City for a place in the Premier League. And there is no absolute certainty that this match will take place. Southampton have asked for a delay to complete an internal review, but time is one thing the EFL does not have. For Middlesbrough, only one outcome is acceptable: That they walk out at Wembley a week on Saturday."

"The Championship play-off final is 10 days away. Ticket sales must be organised. Supporters need to know that they can make plans. But we now enter a process whereby an entire season is about to be decided by an independent disciplinary commission. For Southampton, it must be business as usual - even if the celebrations on Tuesday were, for obvious reasons, slightly muted."

Middlesbrough were eliminated from the Championship play-offs by Southampton after a 2-1 extra-time defeat at St Mary’s Stadium. Kim Hellberg said his disappointment was not only about the match result, but about the Spygate scandal. Southampton were charged by the English Football League for breaking rules by observing a final training session before the first leg at the Riverside. Hellberg said that if the spying had not been caught, he would have felt tactical defeat and personal failure. He described the impact of removing the ability to watch games and instead sending someone to film sessions. Southampton requested a delay to complete an internal review, but the EFL has limited time. The play-off final is scheduled for 23 May, and disciplinary proceedings could determine whether the match proceeds.

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