MIDDLESBROUGH head coach Kim Hellberg said that 'every team in the Championship' should be angry at the conduct of Southampton - after the English Football League charged them with a breach of regulations amid Spygate 2.0.

Hellberg faced a barrage of questions on the subject after his side's 0-0 play-off first leg draw with Saints at the Riverside Stadium.

Ahead of kick-off, the Swede refused to engage in eye contact with Southampton rival Tonda Eckert and their pre-match handshake was decidedly limp.

The EFL's disciplinary commission will decide the punishment for Saints, who acknowledged the charge on Friday evening.

Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg after the Sky Bet Championship play off semi-final first leg match at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough. Picture date: Saturday May 9, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andy Commins/PA Wire.

RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. — Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg after the Sky Bet Championship play off semi-final first leg match at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough. Picture date: Saturday May 9, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andy Commins/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

placeholder image — Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg after the Sky Bet Championship play off semi-final first leg match at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough. Picture date: Saturday May 9, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andy Commins/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

A performance analyst is alleged to have recorded Boro in training and taken pictures of tactics on Thursday morning.

After Leeds United were found guilty of spying on Derby County ahead of a game in 2019, they were fined £200,000 and new rules were introduced, prohibiting clubs from observing training 72 hours prior to a match.

According to the EFL handbook, punishments range from fines, points deductions, transfer embargoes to potential removal from a competition.

Back in 2024, Canada women's soccer coach Bev Priestland was suspended by FIFA for one year, while Canada were docked six points from their Olympic group stage table total and also hit with a fine.

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert. Photo: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire.

This came after they were found guilty of flying a drone over a training session involving rivals New Zealand.

Speaking in his post-match press conference about the incident on Thursday, Hellberg said: "You don't do this. It's rules and you don't plan to do this.. You have disguise and all those things.. You don't do that..

"I think it's not just us. I think every team in the Championship should be angry because who knows?

"I've seen some talking about that it's not a big advantage because you can see the games on films, but it's a massive advantage."

Asked about what the punishment should be for Saints, he continued: "To be fair, we'll see what happens. I cannot answer on that.

"I just think it's weird that they do that and try to cheat in this type of game.”

Hellberg is not ruling out star man Hayden Hackney (calf) being involved in Tuesday's second leg at St Mary's - despite missing the club's last 10 matches - adding: "I hope with every bone in my body that he can participate."