Middlesbrough want Southampton expelled from Championship playoff final for spying

MIDDLESBROUGH, England (AP):

Middlesbrough want Southampton expelled from the Championship playoff final as the English Football League prepares to hold a hearing into allegations of spying.

Southampton beat Middlesbrough in the playoff semifinals after they were accused of unauthorised filming of semifinal opponents Middlesbrough’s training for the game.

The league has warned fans there could be “changes” to the playoff final on May 23.

That leaves Hull, who won the other semifinal, uncertain of which opponents they will face for a lucrative spot in the Premier League.

“The conduct at issue, namely the observation and recording of our training session ahead of a fixture of such significance, goes to the heart of sporting integrity and fair competition,” Middlesbrough said.

“In these circumstances, the only appropriate response is a sporting sanction which would prevent Southampton FC from participating in the EFL Championship playoff final.”

Middlesbrough added they “regret” the disciplinary commission’s decision not to allow them to be part of the process and called on the English Football League to pursue a strong punishment to “deter any attempt in the future to obtain an unfair and unlawful advantage in pursuit of promotion to the Premier League.”

Southampton have previously said they were cooperating with the disciplinary process and asked for more time to complete their own internal review of the issue.