JAKARTA - Southampton qualified for the Championship playoff final, but the victory was overshadowed by serious allegations. Middlesbrough accused of spying on their training session before the match at St Mary's.
Citing a report from The Guardian, Wednesday, May 13, Southampton won through Shea Charles' goal in the 116th minute of extra time. The result took them to the Championship playoff final against Hull at Wembley on May 23.
However, Southampton now faces the possibility of sanctions from an independent disciplinary commission after being charged with breaking two English Football League or EFL rules.
Middlesbrough coach Kim Hellberg appeared emotional after the game. He called the actions attributed to Southampton "shameful" and judged that a fine alone was not enough.
Middlesbrough believe they have caught an analyst hiding at their Rockliffe Park training ground. The person is said to have recorded and recorded Boro's training sessions.
"If we hadn't caught the person they sent, who had traveled five hours by car, maybe you would be sitting here now and praising their tactics," Hellberg said, quoted by The Guardian.
According to Hellberg, the alleged recording of the training session was damaging to the principle of sportsmanship which he believed in.
"But when all of that is taken away from you, when someone decides, 'We'll just send someone, record a training session, see everything, and hope it doesn't get caught', it breaks my heart," he said.
Southampton coach Tonda Eckert, quoted by The Guardian, said his club was taking the allegations very seriously. However, he could not elaborate further because the investigation is still ongoing.
"When the investigation is complete, I will speak," Eckert said.
Tension also arose on the sidelines after Luke Ayling reported an alleged discriminatory comment from Southampton captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Eckert was seen approaching Hellberg, before the two were separated by fourth official Tom Nield. After the match, Hellberg downplayed the incident between the two coaches.
Hellberg stressed that his anger was not directed at the Southampton players or supporters.
"The Southampton players deserve praise for what they did. This has nothing to do with them or their supporters," said Hellberg.
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