Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg didn't hold back after Tuesday night's Championship play-off semi-final defeat to Southampton, expressing his deep frustration over the so-called "Spygate" scandal that has rocked the build-up to the match.

The English Football League has charged Southampton with allegedly observing Boro's training sessions ahead of the play-offs—a claim the Saints have yet to deny. The controversy overshadowed what was already a dramatic night at St. Mary's, where Shea Charles struck in the 116th minute to secure a 2-1 victory for the hosts and send them to the final.

Speaking after the match, an emotional Hellberg made his feelings crystal clear about the off-field incident that he believes compromised his team's preparation. "If we didn't catch that man who they sent up, five hours to drive, you would sit here and say 'well done' maybe in the tactical aspects of the game," he said, referring to a Southampton analyst reportedly found near Boro's training ground. "But when that is taken away from you, when someone decides: 'Nah, we're not going to watch every game, we'll send someone instead, we'll film the session, and see everything, and hope they don't get caught'—I guess that's why they were switching clothes and all those things—it breaks my heart, in terms of all those things I believe in. I don't care if there are different rules in other countries."

The Swedish manager went on to highlight the broader implications, underscoring the sacrifices made by his coaching staff. "If we didn't catch the person, I'd be sitting here thinking I should've done better things. We spend all that time away from family, all of our coaches trying to get a fair way to win a game of that magnitude and then people are talking about a fine for breaking that one rule that means you go again and take those people with more money."

Hellberg was careful to separate the scandal from Southampton's players and fans, giving credit where it's due. "It has nothing to do with the players of Southampton, they deserve all the credit for what they've done, it has nothing to do with their supporters. We will see what will happen."

The fallout continued after the final whistle, with Hellberg's counterpart, Tonda Eckert, abruptly leaving the press conference when a journalist directly questioned him about the incident. As the EFL investigation unfolds, this saga serves as a stark reminder of how high the stakes are in the Championship play-offs—and how far some might go to gain an edge.