Another spying controversy has rocked English soccer, this time involving Southampton and Middlesbrough ahead of their crucial Championship playoff semifinal.

The English Football League (EFL) confirmed it has contacted Southampton after Middlesbrough filed a complaint over "alleged unauthorized filming" on their property. The incident reportedly occurred on Middlesbrough's private grounds, with an individual believed to be linked to Southampton spotted conducting the filming.

In a statement, the EFL said it is treating the matter as "potential misconduct" and has requested Southampton's formal response. The timing couldn't be more tense—the first leg is set for Saturday at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium, with the return leg scheduled for Tuesday in Southampton.

This isn't the first time English soccer has faced such allegations. In 2019, Leeds United was fined £200,000 ($259,000) for spying on Derby County's training session before a match. Then-manager Marcelo Bielsa took full responsibility, admitting in a lengthy press conference that he had watched at least one training session of every opponent that season.

The EFL made clear at the time that such conduct "fell significantly short of the standards expected by the EFL and must not be repeated." Now, with history seemingly repeating itself, all eyes will be on how the league handles this latest controversy—and whether it impacts the high-stakes playoff battle between Southampton and Middlesbrough.