DEPLORABLE” Southampton were said to have “pressured the intern to spy on rivals in a top-down plot” in a damning EFL verdict over Spygate. Saints were dramatically booted

Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg has revealed he has not slept for a week and a half, as the extraordinary ‘Spygate’ controversy continues to engulf the Championship play-offs. The saga began with Middlesbrough’s complaints that a member of Southampton’s staff had breached EFL rules by observing their training sessions ahead of the first leg of the play-off semi-final.

Southampton expelled from EFL Championship playoffs after being caught spying on opponents in a scandal now being called Spygate in English soccer.

The EFL explained it opted for such a severe punishment, by kicking The Saints out of the play-off final and docking the club four points for next season - arguing a financial penalty wouldn't put other clubs off spying.

Southampton have failed in their appeal to get their expulsion from the Championship play-offs overturned. Saints were thrown out of the play-off final by an independent disciplinary commission after they admitted multiple breaches of spying on other teams – including on play-off semi-final opponents Middlesbrough before the first leg.

Southampton were expelled from the promotion play-off because a fine would have been insignificant if they had won promotion to the Premier League, said documents from the Independent Disciplinary

The organisation has published its written reasons for expelling the club from the play-offs and docking them points for next season.

SOUTHAMPTON captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis has broken his silence on Spygate. Saints were booted out of the Championship play-offs after being caught spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough