Photo emerges amid 'spygate' allegations against Saints

Sky Sports News has obtained a photo that shows a man outside Middlesbrough's training ground with a camera amid spying allegations against Southampton.

The picture has emerged following a complaint from Boro that a member of Southampton's staff spied on one of their training sessions ahead of Saturday's Championship play-off semi-final first leg between the two clubs.

Southampton were charged with breaching EFL regulations after Middlesbrough's complaint. The matter is now being investigated by an Independent Disciplinary Commission.

Saints could be thrown out of play-offs if found guilty of spying

Emotional Boro boss Hellberg hits out at 'disgraceful spying'

Report & highlights: Southampton 2-1 Middlesbrough - Agg 2-1 (AET)

Got Sky? Watch the EFL play-offs on the Sky Sports app

Not got Sky? Stream the EFL play-offs with no contract

Sky Sports News has chosen to blur the face of the man in the picture. Southampton declined to comment when asked about the photo.

Southampton booked their place in the Championship play-off final on May 23 with a 2-1 win in extra time against Boro. But it is possible that Saints are thrown out and denied the chance of promotion to the Premier League if the charge is upheld.

But it is also possible that the commission decides Southampton are guilty of no offence, and that the charge is dismissed.

The timing of the hearing is down to the commission, but Sky Sports News has been told they are fully aware of the expediency needed at this stage of the season, with the play-off final fast approaching.

Boro staff spot an alleged Saints spy filming their session behind a tree

Boro staff run to apprehend alleged spy who quickly escapes to the nearby Rockliffe Hall Golf Club

The alleged spy fled into the golf club toilet to change his appearance before hot-footing it through the dining area doors

He then moved towards the first tee box before escaping to the nearby village of Hurworth

If the commission decides to impose a sporting sanction, it might be that the punishment is held over to the start of next season.

The key considerations for the commission are; is there enough evidence to establish wrongdoing? And is that wrongdoing worthy of a significant sporting sanction?

In essence, does the punishment fit the crime? Would it be a fair outcome if Southampton were denied possible promotion to the Premier League, with all the kudos and financial gain that brings, based on this alleged wrongdoing?

The commission has the independence and freedom to impose whatever sanction they deem appropriate. That could be anything from a charge dismissed, a slap on the wrist, a monetary fine, a sporting sanction, or even a sporting sanction which costs Southampton their place in the play-offs.

If the commission does not impose a sporting sanction, the timing of the play-offs is irrelevant.

But we are in uncharted territory here. Yes, there is the precedent of what happened with Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United in 2019, whereby the club was fined £200,000, but the EFL rules have been changed as a result of that.

Rule 3.4 has been in place for many years - whereby clubs have to always deal with each other "in good faith" - that was the charge levelled at Leeds, that they had not done so.

But since 2019, rule 127 has been in place, which expressly prohibits any club from observing, or attempting to observe, another club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match.

Southampton have been charged with breaching both rules 3.4 and 127.