{"id":33942,"date":"2026-05-19T07:33:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T07:33:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T07:33:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T07:33:43","slug":"what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/","title":{"rendered":"What will happen after the EFL&#8217;s Spygate decision, which threatens to advance to the play-off finals | Soccer | Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"photo changeSpace\">\n<p class=\"withoutCaption\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"zoomEnabled\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/1200x712\/secondary\/PA-84592582-1-6928224.jpg?r=1779147159434\" alt=\"southampton spygate\" title=\"southampton spygate\" width=\"590\" height=\"350\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"newsCaption\">Southampton await decision on Spygate scandal <span class=\"caption\">(Image: PA)<\/span><span class=\"magnifier\" data-img=\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/1200x712\/secondary\/PA-84592582-1-6928224.jpg?r=1779147159434\"\/><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>Spygate&#8217;s independent disciplinary committee will meet today as Southampton wait to learn their fate. Saints, who reached the Championship play-off final after defeating Middlesbrough 2-1 in their second leg, have been accused of breaching English Football League (EFL) regulations. Southampton have been accused of spying on Boro&#8217;s training session ahead of the first leg.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>A Saints performance analyst was caught recording the session and taking photos, but the footage was reportedly deleted. The Teesside club then called for their opponents to be excluded from the final against Hull City, saying it was the &#8220;only appropriate response&#8221; and declaring that Southampton&#8217;s actions were contrary to &#8220;sporting integrity and fair competition&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>Boro was not allowed to attend the hearing but made clear he expected sporting sanctions to deter clubs from spying on rivals in the future. Express Sport brings you what happens next in the play-off final, scheduled for this Saturday (May 23)&#8230;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>Boro could see their wishes come true and see Southampton excluded from the play-offs and denied any chance of promotion to the Premier League. That only happens if the committee upholds the charges against them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>If that happens, Middlesbrough are likely to return in place of Southampton despite losing in the semi-finals. If that happens, it is virtually guaranteed that the Saints will launch an appeal, which would almost certainly mean a postponement of the playoff final. It is likely to be rescheduled for Tuesday, May 26 to allow Boro time to sell and distribute tickets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>Perhaps the most likely punishment, Southampton faces financial consequences if found guilty. Leeds United were found guilty of similar offenses in February 2019 and fined \u00a3200,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>But that was before the EFL introduced rules that strictly forbid observing opponents&#8217; training within 72 hours of a match. As a result, Tonda Eckert&#8217;s team is expected to be fined even more, potentially in the millions of dollars.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>Express sports on FB! Get all the best sports news and more on our Facebook page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"photo changeSpace\">\n<p class=\"withoutCaption\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"zoomEnabled\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/1200x712\/secondary\/southampton-england-a-southampton-fan-is-seen-using-binoculars-inside-the-stadium-prior-to-6928226.jpg?r=1779147159461\" alt=\"Southampton vs Middlesbrough - Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg\" title=\"Southampton vs Middlesbrough - Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg\" width=\"590\" height=\"393\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"newsCaption\">Southampton could be excluded from the Championship play-off final <span class=\"caption\">(Image: Getty)<\/span><span class=\"magnifier\" data-img=\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/1200x712\/secondary\/southampton-england-a-southampton-fan-is-seen-using-binoculars-inside-the-stadium-prior-to-6928226.jpg?r=1779147159461\"\/><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>Southampton decided to deduct a point.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>If it is confirmed that Saints&#8217; main punishment is to face a points deduction, it will no doubt cause anger. If they win in the play-off final, they will no longer be allowed points deductions in the Premier League. Applicable only in EFL.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>Therefore, it will not apply until the club returns to the second division, and it is unclear when that will be. However, if they lose to Hull City, they will start the 2026-27 Championship season with negative points. It is still unclear how many.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>If Eckert is found to have allowed analysts to travel to Boro-Rockliff headquarters, he could face a long touchline ban. And his staff could also be suspended.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>However, there is a possibility that Eckert will be completely banned from the soccer world. In 2024, Canadian women&#8217;s head coach Bev Priestman was banned from soccer for one year by FIFA following the Paris Olympics spying scandal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>Southampton acquitted<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>It is also possible that the commission will find Southampton not guilty and the charges will be dismissed. Needless to say, that&#8217;s the outcome the South Coast organization is hoping for.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-description\">\n<p>Unlike Southampton, Middlesbrough have no right of appeal. However, the EFL can do that for them. Boro have indicated they may seek legal action, but EFL rules prevent them from taking the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.express.co.uk\/sport\/football\/2207009\/EFL-Spygate-punishment-Championship-playoff-final\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Southampton await decision on Spygate scandal (Image: PA) Spygate&#8217;s independent disciplinary committee will meet today as Southampton wait to learn their fate. Saints, who reached the Championship play-off final after defeating Middlesbrough 2-1 in their second leg, have been accused of breaching English Football League (EFL) regulations. Southampton have been accused of spying on Boro&#8217;s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33943,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-33942","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-matches"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What will happen after the EFL&#039;s Spygate decision, which threatens to advance to the play-off finals | Soccer | Sports - EPL VIP \u2013 Latest English Premier League News &amp; Updates<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What will happen after the EFL&#039;s Spygate decision, which threatens to advance to the play-off finals | Soccer | Sports - EPL VIP \u2013 Latest English Premier League News &amp; Updates\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Southampton await decision on Spygate scandal (Image: PA) Spygate&#8217;s independent disciplinary committee will meet today as Southampton wait to learn their fate. Saints, who reached the Championship play-off final after defeating Middlesbrough 2-1 in their second leg, have been accused of breaching English Football League (EFL) regulations. Southampton have been accused of spying on Boro&#8217;s\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"EPL VIP \u2013 Latest English Premier League News &amp; Updates\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-19T07:33:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/1200x712\/secondary\/PA-84592582-1-6928224.jpg?r=1779147159434\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin_ok9yktt6\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin_ok9yktt6\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/\",\"name\":\"What will happen after the EFL's Spygate decision, which threatens to advance to the play-off finals | Soccer | Sports - EPL VIP \u2013 Latest English Premier League News &amp; Updates\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6928225.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-19T07:33:43+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/#\/schema\/person\/6b2ade58a96ab056f743f12490573ae9\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6928225.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6928225.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":630},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"What will happen after the EFL&#8217;s Spygate decision, which threatens to advance to the play-off finals | Soccer | Sports\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/\",\"name\":\"EPL VIP \u2013 Latest English Premier League News &amp; Updates\",\"description\":\"EPL VIP is your ultimate source for all things related to the English Premier League. Get the latest EPL news, live match updates, transfer rumors, team analysis, fixtures, and exclusive insights for true football fans.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/#\/schema\/person\/6b2ade58a96ab056f743f12490573ae9\",\"name\":\"admin_ok9yktt6\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3caa6e0fae133a2d8ebe213abde6eafe85769664d063c8ab6c7960c877d904ea?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3caa6e0fae133a2d8ebe213abde6eafe85769664d063c8ab6c7960c877d904ea?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin_ok9yktt6\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/author\/admin_ok9yktt6\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What will happen after the EFL's Spygate decision, which threatens to advance to the play-off finals | Soccer | Sports - EPL VIP \u2013 Latest English Premier League News &amp; Updates","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What will happen after the EFL's Spygate decision, which threatens to advance to the play-off finals | Soccer | Sports - EPL VIP \u2013 Latest English Premier League News &amp; Updates","og_description":"Southampton await decision on Spygate scandal (Image: PA) Spygate&#8217;s independent disciplinary committee will meet today as Southampton wait to learn their fate. Saints, who reached the Championship play-off final after defeating Middlesbrough 2-1 in their second leg, have been accused of breaching English Football League (EFL) regulations. Southampton have been accused of spying on Boro&#8217;s","og_url":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/","og_site_name":"EPL VIP \u2013 Latest English Premier League News &amp; Updates","article_published_time":"2026-05-19T07:33:43+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/1200x712\/secondary\/PA-84592582-1-6928224.jpg?r=1779147159434","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"admin_ok9yktt6","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin_ok9yktt6","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/","url":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/","name":"What will happen after the EFL's Spygate decision, which threatens to advance to the play-off finals | Soccer | Sports - EPL VIP \u2013 Latest English Premier League News &amp; Updates","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6928225.jpg","datePublished":"2026-05-19T07:33:43+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/#\/schema\/person\/6b2ade58a96ab056f743f12490573ae9"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6928225.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6928225.jpg","width":1200,"height":630},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/what-will-happen-after-the-efls-spygate-decision-which-threatens-to-advance-to-the-play-off-finals-soccer-sports\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What will happen after the EFL&#8217;s Spygate decision, which threatens to advance to the play-off finals | Soccer | Sports"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/","name":"EPL VIP \u2013 Latest English Premier League News &amp; Updates","description":"EPL VIP is your ultimate source for all things related to the English Premier League. Get the latest EPL news, live match updates, transfer rumors, team analysis, fixtures, and exclusive insights for true football fans.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/#\/schema\/person\/6b2ade58a96ab056f743f12490573ae9","name":"admin_ok9yktt6","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3caa6e0fae133a2d8ebe213abde6eafe85769664d063c8ab6c7960c877d904ea?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3caa6e0fae133a2d8ebe213abde6eafe85769664d063c8ab6c7960c877d904ea?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin_ok9yktt6"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/eplvip.com"],"url":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/author\/admin_ok9yktt6\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33942"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33942\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33943"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33942"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33942"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}