(Credit: Imago)

James Murray

Tue 12 May 2026 16:16, UK

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Championship promotion hopefuls Southampton are likely to receive a “significant fine” after being charged with spying on Middlesbrough. 

That is according to former Everton, Aston Villa and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, who exclusively told Football Insider there is unlikely to be a “smoking gun” to remove the Saints from the play-offs.

The EFL has accused Southampton of “observing, or attempting to observe, another club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match” ahead of the first leg on Saturday (9 May). 

The two sides played out a goalless draw at the Riverside Stadium, leaving the tie hanging in the balance.

They will now go head-to-head at St Mary’s Stadium on Tuesday (12 May) for a place in the final against Hull City, who beat Millwall 2-0 on Monday (11 May). 

How the EFL are expected to handle Southampton controversy

Southampton are conducting an internal investigation into the matter after Middlesbrough claimed a member of their coaching staff was found watching and recording a training session at Rockcliffe Park on Thursday (7 May). 

Meanwhile, The Athletic reported on Tuesday The Teesiders are seeking a sporting sanction for the Saints rather than compensation. 

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Wyness discussed the potential punishment for Southampton.

“Wow, what a mess,” said Wyness.

“I must admit, I wouldn’t like to be Rick Parry and Trevor Birch at the EFL trying to unravel this one. As we sit here just now, Southampton are playing Middlesbrough tonight.

“If Southampton win, there could still be a sanction that in theory could kick them back out and Middlesbrough could get through on a bye in some way. I don’t think they’ll replay the play-offs. I don’t think they’ll bring another club in like Wrexham, for example.

“It would be a straightforward sanction. What I do believe will happen is that there’ll be a significant fine. They may go up to something like £500,000. In the grand scheme of things, it’s nothing, but that’s where it’ll end up rather than a sporting sanction.” 

Why Southampton incident could cause play-off ‘chaos’

Wyness insisted he sees the EFL handing out a sporting sanction as the “last resort” in this instance.

“Southampton are sticking to this story of being a lone wolf,” said Wyness.

“If that’s proven to be wrong and if there are genuine orders coming from the club itself, then it’s very hard not to see this going into a sporting sanction. But I don’t know what proof there is and I’m sure that Steve Gibson and Middlesbrough are looking into all of that right now and trying to find what they can. 

“I’m sure the EFL never thought that they’d get this in a semi-final before the play-offs, but it could put the whole play-offs picture into complete chaos.

“I see a sporting sanction as the very last resort unless there’s some extremely clear evidence linking it to the club that directions had gone forward. I don’t think that will be there as my guess. There will be no smoking gun, so the lone wolf story will stay, and it’ll be a significant fine.”