Southampton spying probe: Saints accused by EFL of spying on Middlesbrough

The Saints were accused of breaking two laws:

EFL Rule 3.4requiring clubs to act in good faith with each other; And

EFL Rule 127It prohibits any club from watching or attempting to practice for another club within 72 hours of the scheduled match between the two clubs.

The statement added: “Under EFL rules, Southampton will have 14 days to respond to the allegations.

“However, given the nature of the matter, the EFL will ask the Independent Disciplinary Commission to shorten its response time and schedule a hearing in due course.”

The first leg of the semi-finals will be played at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.12:30 BST) with his return to St. Mary’s on Tuesday.

The Espionage Act came seven years ago Leeds United were fined £200,000. To watch opponents train before a match in the EFL.

On 10 January 2019, a member of Leeds staff was found acting suspiciously outside Derby’s training ground prior to a match between the two sides.

Manager Marcelo Bielsa revealed that he sent a member of staff to watch the training sessions of every team Leeds played that season.

The EFL found Leeds had breached rules on treating teams in “good faith”.