Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis is in hot water after mocking a Middlesbrough player with a binoculars celebration – while Saints are being investigated for spying.
Harwood-Bellis stopped in front of Aidan Morris and performed the obnoxious gesture after Shea Charles’ 115th-minute winner sent Southampton to the Championship play-off final.
But Morris could have the last laugh because Southampton are at risk of being chucked out of the final due to the Spygate 2.0 scandal, which was exclusively uncovered by Daily Mail Sport.
And Harwood-Bellis – who is engaged to Roy Keane’s daughter Leah – could face retrospective action from the Football Association for his cruel taunts.
The one-time England international, 24, has already been on thin ice after Middlesbrough defender Luke Ayling accused him of ‘discriminatory’ language during the match.
Ayling, whose stammer is reported to be the subject of the comments, flagged the alleged ridicule to referee Andrew Madley but has asked the FA not to pursue a case.
Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis mocked Middlesbrough’s Aidan Morris with a binoculars celebration… but Saints could be kicked out of the play-offs over ‘Spygate 2.0’
The one-time England player proposed to Leah Keane on a yacht on the Amalfi coast in 2024
Middlesbrough are continuing to train in the event that Southampton are thrown out of their scheduled play-off final at Wembley against Hull City.
A Southampton intern was caught allegedly spying on a Middlesbrough training session ahead of the goalless first leg of their semi-final, as reported by Daily Mail Sport.
On Friday night, the EFL charged the south coast club with a breach of their rules.
Saints won Tuesday’s return leg 2-1 to set up a Wembley date versus Hull City, pencilled in for May 23, but that is now in doubt.
Boro are pushing for Southampton to be expelled and an independent commission will decide on the punishment by next week, leaving the date and location of the final and the identity of Hull’s opponents uncertain.
If it is proven that Southampton spied on opposition teams on several occasions, as a whistleblower is thought to have indicated in a statement to be used in evidence, then Tonda Eckert’s side would likely be removed from the competition and Boro would take their place in the final.
Middlesbrough’s legal team are pushing for bank statements and electronic devices to be handed over as part of the case, given they could provide a paper trail of unsporting espionage around the country.
An EFL statement read: ‘The Independent Disciplinary Commission hearing will take place on or before Tuesday 19 May. The exact date remains under discussion and is expected to be confirmed shortly.
Harwood-Bellis (left) was also accused of using discriminatory language towards Luke Ayling (right), but the Middlesbrough player opted against pursuing the allegation
The Championship play-off final could be postponed dependent on the outcome of the ‘Spygate’ scandal (pictured – the alleged Southampton analyst who was accused of spying)
The intern circled, pictured with manager Tonda Eckert to mark February’s Manager of the Month award, has been identified as the individual involved
Southampton ultimately beat Middlesbrough 2-1 on aggregate to reach the play-off final, which is scheduled for next Saturday at Wembley
‘The Commission will issue its decision as soon as possible following consideration of the relevant submissions and evidence. As the proceedings are being conducted by an Independent Disciplinary Commission, the EFL does not control the proposed timetable.
‘Notwithstanding this, the EFL continues to plan on the basis that the Championship Play-Off Final will take place as scheduled on Saturday 23 May, with the kick-off time confirmed as 4.30pm. Supporters should, however, be aware that the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture. The EFL has a number of contingency plans should they be required, which also includes consideration of any appeal process, if required.’
Our Spygate investigation uncovered a picture of the intern standing near Southampton boss Eckert, celebrating his manager of the month prize for February. Daily Mail Sport’s sources say he is a key part of Eckert’s first-team operation and highly valued by the German.
If spying on opponents is proven to be a systemic practice within the club, it would raise serious questions over the futures of senior individuals who sanctioned the tactic.
The EFL’s statement also comes after Southampton removed play-off final ticket information from their website, having initially revealed on Wednesday that sales would begin on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, Hull sporting director Jared Dublin maintains the club will just continue their own preparations for Wembley as everyone awaits the outcome of the EFL hearing.
‘(It is) not a good look for football, not a good look for the EFL for sure, unfortunately. At this moment in time we’re preparing for Southampton, that’s all we can do,’ Dublin told Hull Live.
‘We don’t want to go to Wembley with any excuses on this, that, distraction, noise, so the message to the players, the message to the staff is, we’re preparing for Southampton away at Wembley and see what comes.’
Dublin added: ‘We will react as appropriate and as necessary to obviously protect our football club and our interests, but right now we are 100 per cent focused on Southampton, away at Wembley.’
Hull owner Acun Ilicali said he would have been ‘furious’ if such alleged spying had been conducted against his team.
‘I always run for justice in my life, but you see many things in life that surprises you, and on this I am surprised too,’ he told talkSPORT.
‘I know the owners of Southampton – they are good people and I am sure this is nothing to do with them. But whoever is involved on the technical side, I do not know – whoever is involved, I think, put the evil in the football world this week.’
