Sports

Spy Drama Threatens Football Club’s Place in $162 Million Final

Southampton score during the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg match against Middlesbrough at St Mary’s Stadium.Photographer: Warren Little/Getty Images Europe

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By David Hellier

May 14, 2026 at 12:50 PM UTC

The playoff football match for promotion to the Premier League is known as the most lucrative game in the sport. This year, one of the teams may have lost its chance before even kicking a ball.

Southampton Football Club is facing allegations that it spied on rival Middlesbrough, the club it defeated in its first round of playoff games. Southampton is set to face Hull City AFC in nine days’ time at the playoff final, after beating Middlesbrough 2-1 in extra-time.