Ex-PGMOL chief hints Southampton could be booted out of Championship play-off final after Middlesbrough latest

Southampton could be facing expulsion from the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium due to the ongoing Spygate.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Middlesbrough could still play against Hull City if the Saints are found guilty of breaching EFL rules.

Goals from Ross Stewart and Shea Charles helped Tonda Eckert’s side to take an important step towards Premier League promotion, but there is still a chance for all of it to unravel should the Saints be punished.

The EFL are being pressured to expel Southampton from the final, and given the situation, Boro’s players are going to continue training in the event of a major change ahead of the final.

Hackett has labelled the decision to continue training as “wise,” with the former head of the PGMOL hinting to Football Insider that the Saints really could be taken out of the running for promotion.

“Recent reports appear to show that access to the boundary of the Middlesbrough training ground appears to be rather insecure, allowing anyone to look at the training sessions,” he said.

“If that is the case, and screens are not preventing vision of the sessions, this might weaken the argument in parts.

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Middlesbrough’s players will continue training for the Championship play-off final as the club intensifies pressure on the EFL to throw out Southampton

🗓️ Players given two days off but will return to training on Friday🔺 New complaint lodged after bottles thrown… pic.twitter.com/HVomcRblg4

“However, if proven that spying has taken place and EFL regulations have been broken, the impact could create a rematch or, at worst for Southampton, Middlesbrough advance in the competition.

“It appears wise to me that both teams remain in training. The EFL must resolve this issue quickly.”

The original Spygate was an extremely infamous case between Leeds United and Derby County, one which Marcelo Bielsa openly admitted to during the 2019-20 campaign.

After spying on training at Moor Farm, the Whites were charged £200,000, with Bielsa publicly apologising, and the club accepting the charge.

There were no further ramifications, though, and while Leeds missed out on promotion that season, they would eventually fight for top-flight status in the following campaign.

Many supporters are expecting something similar heading the way of the Saints, and that would mean that Eckert’s side are free to take on Hull at Wembley Stadium. But for now, it remains up in the air.

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