Despite Middlesbrough’s demands to ban Southampton from the Championship play-off final, Keith Hackett believes they will get a fine and be allowed to compete.

An independent panel is presently examining the Saints after a staff member allegedly spied on Middlesbrough ahead of the first leg of their play-off semi-final match last week.

Southampton’s advance to the final against Hull City in the second leg at St Mary’s has increased the significance of the probe, with an outcome due by Tuesday, May 19.

Boro issued a shocking statement on Friday, insisting that the “only appropriate response” to the allegations is to bar Tonda Eckert’s team from competing in the showcase event at Wembley.

The EFL is proceeding as usual until an official decision is reached, and former PGMOL boss Hackett fears Boro’s demands will go unheard ahead of the match.

Southampton expected to get a ‘hefty’ punishment rather than play-off exile.

Middlesbrough’s players have remained in full training ahead of an official decision, with Kim Hellberg plainly feeling cheated by Southampton following his angry post-match statement last week.

Hackett had stated that Southampton might be kicked out of the play-offs if found guilty, but now predicts that the independent panel will allow them to face Hull next weekend.

Date: Saturday, May 23.
Kick-off time: 4:30 PM.
Venue: Wembley

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Championship play-off final match information as they stand.
Following Boro’s announcement, the ex-FIFA referee anticipated a fine for the Saints, saying: “The EFL will not want to lose revenue from a Wembley game. This may turn extremely nasty, and the legal team will be on notice regardless of the outcome.

“Despite the gravity of the alleged rule violations, I assume they (the independent panel) are leaning toward a substantial punishment rather than kicking Southampton out of the competition.

“They’ll have to consider whether Southampton gained an unfair advantage.” The suspected intruder witnessing the training session will undoubtedly have been studying Middlesborough’s set piece plays at corner kicks and free kicks.

“Middlesbrough’s chairman is a man with much football expertise who is widely respected. Whatever the outcome, I anticipate it will be challenged.”

What is the precedent for an espionage sentence in the EFL?

Knowledgeable EFL fans will recall a similar case from 2019, when a member of Leeds United’s staff was accused of spying on a Derby County training session before the two teams faced in the Championship.

The Whites’ manager, Marcelo Bielsa, officially admitted to the infraction, and the authorities penalized them with approximately £200,000 for breaking the regulations.

The difference between that circumstance and this one is apparent, as Leeds’ actions prompted the EFL to modify its rules, specifically prohibiting teams from monitoring opposing training sessions within 72 hours of a match.

Southampton is accused of breaking that precise rule, therefore it appears that the fine they may face is bigger than the one Leeds received seven years ago.