Middlesbrough have demanded that the English Football League expel Southampton from the Championship playoff final against Hull and are furious at being denied a chance to argue their case at an independent disciplinary hearing.
Southampton, who beat Middlesbrough 2-1 in the semi-final, are facing EFL misconduct charges after Boro said they had been the victims of training-ground spying. An independent disciplinary commission is due to hear Southampton’s explanation in person by Tuesday at the latest. There are suggestions that it could sit over the weekend.
Middlesbrough had hoped to attend but their evidence is now with the EFL, which, as is standard practice in such cases, will present its case against Southampton to the commission. Potential sanctions open to that panel range from fines to points deductions and expulsion from the playoffs.
In a statement, on Friday Middlesbrough said: “The club regrets that outcome given we are directly affected by the matters under consideration and hold relevant factual evidence as to the events in question and their competitive impact.
“The conduct at issue, namely the observation and recording of our training session ahead of a fixture of such significance, (last Saturday’s semi final first leg) goes to the heart of sporting integrity and fair competition. In these circumstances, the only appropriate response is a sporting sanction which would prevent Southampton FC from participating in the EFL Championship playoff final.
Quick GuideClubs vote in favour of new financial rules
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Championship clubs have voted to introduce new financial rules that will cap their spending on players and managers at 85% of income from next season. As reported by The Guardian this week, the squad cost rules (SCR) system will replace the EFL’s profitability and sustainability rules, which permitted clubs to lose no more than £105m over a three-year cycle.
The Championship clubs have been operating SCR in shadow form alongside the existing regulations during the current campaign, but will move towards real-time financial monitoring from next season.
In addition to the 85% spending cap, owners will be permitted to inject up to £33m in equity over any three-year period, although that figure is capped at £15m in any one season.
"The SCR system limits clubs spending on player and manager-related costs (including transfer fees) to a set percentage of their income, alongside a limited level of owner funding," the EFL said.
"The framework also includes safeguards around commercial deals linked to owners or associated parties," the EFL added. "The changes are intended to create a simpler and more responsive system of cost control within the Championship.
"A version of the SCR framework is also to be introduced in the Premier League for the 2026-27 season, bringing closer alignment between the divisions."
While the move to SCR will give most Championship owners more flexibility in terms of funding their club, League One clubs have moved in the opposite direction by voting to reduce their permitted spending under the salary cost management protocol (SCMP) from 60% to 50% of turnover, in line with the regulations used in League Two.
“As part of the amendments to SCMP, the percentage of turnover that clubs in League One will be able to spend on wages has been reduced from 60% to 50%, with manager costs to now also be included within the SCMP calculation,” the EFL said.
“Clubs relegated from the Championship will be permitted to spend 65% of turnover on wages during their first season in League One, reduced from 75% under the current rules.
“The new rules further strengthen financial control and are another important step towards helping clubs to operate on a more sustainable basis.” Matt Hughes
“We remain hopeful that the EFL, as a regulator, will pursue such a sanction before the disciplinary commission in order to protect the integrity of the game, safeguard all member clubs and deter any attempt in the future to obtain an unfair and unlawful advantage in pursuit of promotion to the Premier League.”
Although Southampton have the right to appeal against the commission’s decision, Middlesbrough do not.
There is uncertainty as to whether the showpiece final will take place as scheduled next Saturday and an expatriate Hull supporter who has spent about £2,000 to attend Wembley after travelling from Melbourne is understandably upset to learn it could be moved.
Jack Gorbert, a former Hull season-ticket holder, said the EFL has “no regard for fans”. Once Hull beat Millwall in their semi-final, Gorbert immediately booked flights to London. “There’s no way I was going to miss out,” he said. “I’d probably sell a kidney if I had to.
“ What’s happened is absolutely crazy. I’ve spoken to one fan who is coming from Sydney and someone else coming from Peru. But it’s not just that, it’s fans in Hull booking trains and hotels and paying disgraceful prices.
“I feel for the club, they couldn’t have done any more. I’m more angry at the EFL. I think they were trying to hide behind the fact Middlesbrough could win the semi-final and it would go away. But, if you bring in a rule, you have to have a punishment.”
Although the EFL said it “does not control the proposed timetable” of the independent disciplinary commission, it has acknowledged that this “complex situation has caused concern and disruption for supporters, particularly those making travel arrangements”.
The Hull City official supporters’ club believes the EFL should have decided on a specific punishment for espionage. In a statement, it said: “Given this is a situation which has largely resulted from the EFL’s own error in failing to publish the sanctions for a breach of the rule regarding spying on opposition teams, we feel this is manifestly unfair.”