Middlesbrough are set to host Southampton for the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final clash on Saturday, but the build-up to the game has been overshadowed by a spying incident.

This season, the Saints and Boro both won 80 points in the second division, but Tonda Eckert’s men finished fourth, one spot higher than Kim Hellberg’s side, because to their superior goal difference.

As a result, the South Coast club will host the North East team for the second leg of their semi-final on Tuesday.

The winner of the other play-off semi-final between Hull City and Millwall will face Southampton or Middlesbrough at Wembley Stadium on May 23.

Southampton might face EFL fines following the Middlesbrough spying incident.

The Saints and Boro are familiar enemies, having met twice during the regular Championship season, but they are aware that there is more at stake in the playoffs.

The previous time Eckert’s team faced Hellberg’s side, Middlesbrough won 4-0 thanks to Morgan Whittaker’s brace and goals from Samuel Silvera and Alan Browne in January.

The Saints and Boro drew 1-1 at St Mary’s Stadium in their season opener, with Kaly Sene’s equaliser wiping out Adam Armstrong’s opener.

However, much has changed since last September, when Armstrong joined Wolverhampton Wanderers during the winter transfer window, and both teams now have different managers.

Meanwhile, Teesside Live reports that despite their familiarity, Boro have reported the Saints to the EFL for allegedly photographing the North East side’s training session without permission.

According to Teesside Live, the EFL’s handbook lists sanctions such as point deductions, fines, and transfer embargoes, while the Disciplinary Commission has the authority to impose whatever discipline it deems appropriate.

A similar occurrence occurred in 2019, when Leeds United, then in the Championship, recorded a Derby County training session.

The Whites were fined £200,000, and the EFL later imposed a rule prohibiting spectators from seeing or filming opposing training for 72 hours before a game.

If Southampton wins promotion, the process of deducting points may become difficult.

The spying claims against Southampton will make their play-off semi-final showdown with Middlesbrough even more stressful, while a chance to win promotion to the Premier League at Wembley has always been on the line.

Meanwhile, Leeds were fined £200,000 for a similar infraction seven years ago, implying that the Saints will face a similar punishment if proven guilty of spying on Boro’s training session.

However, if Southampton receives a points reduction from the EFL, the process of gaining promotion to the top level may be made more difficult because the Premier League is governed by a different organization than the Championship, League One, and League Two.

Furthermore, the Saints have a strong chance of winning promotion, having gone 20 games unbeaten in all competitions until losing to Manchester City in last month’s FA Cup semi-final.

Middlesbrough, on the other hand, appeared to be on track for automatic promotion alongside Championship championship winners Coventry City, but poor form in recent weeks has pushed them down to fifth place.