EFL investigating potential Southampton spy in run-up to play-off semi-final

[p]"[b]The EFL has written to Southampton ‌FC requesting their observations following a complaint from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/middlesbrough/6F0lvLNC/"]Middlesbrough FC[/a] relating to ‌alleged unauthorised filming ahead of ⁠the two ‌clubs' meeting in Saturday's Championship play-off semi-final ​first leg[/b]," an EFL spokesperson told Southampton daily newspaper The ​Southern Daily Echo.[/p][p]"[b]The alleged incident is said to have taken place ⁠on Middlesbrough’s ​private property by an individual identified to be associated with Southampton.[/b][/p][p]"[b]The league is treating this matter as potential ‌misconduct under EFL Regulations and will be making no further comment at this time.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="b137e2fb-b602-4439-853a-035be1384591" url="https://x.com/SaintsExtra/status/2052435571838943254?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]BBC Sport reported that a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/southampton/WdKOwxDM/"]Southampton[/a] performance analyst was caught recording Middlesbrough training and photographing tactics on Thursday morning, two days before Saturday's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/middlesbrough-6F0lvLNC/southampton-WdKOwxDM/?mid=06SB4db6"]first leg at ‌the Riverside Stadium[/a]. The analyst ​was told to delete the footage ‌and leave the area.[/p][p]League rules bar clubs from observing, or attempting to observe, another club's training session in the 72 hours ⁠before a match.[/p][p]Southampton ⁠could not ‌immediately be reached for comment.[/p]