Boro demand Saints kicked out of play-offs

Middlesbrough are not permitted to intervene in proceedings against Southampton

Middlesbrough have called for Southampton to be expelled from the Championship play-off final over the Spygate saga. has dominated the English Football League's (EFL) end-of season showpiece.

Southampton beat Boroin extra time in the second legto reach the Wembley final on Saturday, 23 May against Hull City -. that may have to be rescheduled depending on the outcome of an independent panel's hearing.

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 - before the first leg of the play-off semi-final.

In a statement, Boro described the conduct as going against"sporting integrity. fair competition",externaland believe that a sporting sanction is the only fair outcome.

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The hearing, conducted by an independent disciplinary committee, will take place on or before Tuesday, 19 May.

But with Middlesbrough not allowed to be present, they are calling on the EFL to expel Southampton from the play-offs in the interests of fairness. to deter clubs from spying in future.

"The conduct at issue, namely the observation. recording of our training session ahead of a fixture of such significance, goes to the heart of sporting integrity and fair competition," Middlesbrough's statement said.

"In these circumstances. the only appropriate response is a sporting sanction which would prevent Southampton FC from participating in the EFL Championship play-off final.

"We remain hopeful that the EFL, as regulator, will pursue such a sanction to protect the integrity of the game, safeguard all member clubs,. deter any attempt in the future to obtain an unfair and unlawful advantage in pursuit of promotion to the Premier League."

Most of the attention around Middlesbrough's statement on Friday will centre around the club wanting Southampton thrown out of the play-offs.

We sort of knew this anyway, of course, but Boro coming out. putting it on the record ramps up the story another notch.

But buried in the detail is one important fact: the Riverside club have not been named by the Independent Disciplinary Commission as an "interested party".

This could turn out to be very important.

It means that if the final outcome is not to Boro's liking - so any result. results in Saints still playing Hull on 23 May - they have no right to appeal against the decision or challenge it.

It is standard practice for there to be only two "interested parties" in a disciplinary hearing - the one bringing the charge, in this case the EFL,. the other defending it, Southampton.

But Boro argue that it is unfair that they are now, in effect, locked out of the process.

After all, it is they who raised the complaint and provided all the evidence. They are the "party" who was being impacted by the spying.

It does create at least a little more certainty for the play-off final, however.

If Southampton are not removed then it means. unless the EFL were to appeal, the match would definitely go ahead as scheduled.