Team affected by German coach
Football club suspected of espionage
May 9, 2026 – 1:10 p.mReading time: 1 min.
A Southampton employee is said to have hidden in the bushes before the playoff semi-final against Middlesbrough and filmed the opponents’ training without permission. The English association reacts.
Before the playoff semi-final between Southampton FC and Middlesbrough FC, the English Football Association EFL opened disciplinary proceedings against Southampton. A club employee is said to have filmed Middlesbrough’s training session without permission – and was caught.
The association justified the proceedings with “Middlesbrough’s complaint about allegedly unauthorized filming in the run-up to the first leg of the semi-final”. The basis is a rule that prohibits observing the opponent’s training within 72 hours before a game.
Several English media outlets reported that the employee hid in the bushes not far from Middlesbrough’s training ground with a camera on Thursday. He was caught and then deleted the recordings from his iPhone.
The first leg takes place on Saturday at 1.30 p.m., the second leg takes place on Tuesday. German coach Tonda Eckert has been in charge of Southampton FC since the end of last year. He wants to achieve promotion back to the Premier League with the “Saints”.
The permanent staff also includes 23-year-old German midfielder Casper Jander. Another German, Technical Director Johannes Spors, plays an important role. The final of the English playoff series is scheduled for May 23rd.
