Middlesbrough have issued a statement in which they call for Southampton’s expulsion from the Championship play-off final.
Boro will not be permitted to take part in the hearing brought by the EFL over Saints’ alleged spying at their Rockliffe Park training ground last Thursday in the build-up to the first leg of their play-off semi-final at the Riverside.
They describe the conduct as going against “sporting integrity and fair competition” and believe that a sporting sanction is the only fair outcome.
Southampton beat Boro in extra-time in the second leg to reach the final on 23 May against Hull City – but that may have to be rescheduled depending on the outcome of this hearing.
