Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg described the ‘Spygate’ controversy that overshadowed his side’s Championship play-off semi-final defeat to Southampton as “disgraceful” and something that “breaks my heart”.
The saga centres on allegations that a member of Southampton staff attempted to observe and film a Middlesbrough training session last Thursday. Middlesbrough say staff reviewed CCTV footage after the incident.
On the pitch, after a goalless first-leg draw, Shea Charles’ 116th-minute strike secured Southampton a 2-1 aggregate victory and a place at Wembley for the play-off final on May 23.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Hellberg reflected on his decade-and-a-half-long coaching dream of reaching the Premier League and on the tactical edge coaches use to compete against wealthier clubs. He said he and his staff had spent days studying Southampton to gain an advantage, and that the alleged spying had taken away something he values about the game. “When that is taken away from you… it breaks my heart in terms of all those things I believe in,” he said, adding: “I think it’s disgraceful. It makes me very sad.”
Pressed on whether Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert knew about the alleged incident, Hellberg declined to comment.
Eckert has repeatedly refused to answer questions about the matter, walking out of post-match press conferences on more than one occasion. At Tuesday’s conference, he left after the second question—”Are you a cheat?”—and his press officer intervened to stop further questioning.
The EFL has charged Southampton and recommended an independent disciplinary hearing before the final because of the “nature of the matter.” The Independent Disciplinary Commission will decide whether a hearing is necessary and what, if any, sanctions should follow. Rule 127—introduced since a similar controversy in 2019—prohibits spying within 72 hours of a match; in 2019 Leeds were punished under a ‘good faith’ law because explicit rules were lacking at the time.
Middlesbrough believe Southampton have “plainly cheated” and want the strongest possible sporting sanction, saying a fine alone would be insufficient.
Southampton have asked the EFL for time to complete an internal review. The club was charged on Friday, and the EFL had asked the disciplinary commission to shorten the usual response period and list a hearing “at the earliest opportunity.” Chief executive Phil Parsons said the club is “fully co-operating with the EFL and the disciplinary commission” and wants to ensure “all facts and context are properly understood” before conclusions are drawn.
With the play-off final approaching, the dispute remains unresolved and could still have consequences for Southampton depending on the commission’s findings.