[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"football-site-config":3,"world-cup-status-en":27,"news-detail-why-middlesbrough-are-in-play-off-final-spygate-fallout":61,"news-related-why-middlesbrough-are-in-play-off-final-spygate-fallout-en":93,"news-related-match-why-middlesbrough-are-in-play-off-final-spygate-fallout-en":26},{"adSlots":4,"affiliateMode":5,"brandName":6,"contentStrategy":7,"currency":8,"friendLinks":9,"homepageLayoutKey":10,"leagueFocus":11,"locale":12,"planVisibility":13,"seoDescription":14,"seoTitleTemplate":15,"siteCode":10,"siteName":6,"siteType":10,"subscriptionMode":5,"timezone":16,"id":17,"tenantID":18,"primaryDomain":19,"countryCode":20,"logoUrl":21,"faviconUrl":21,"theme":22,"seoKeywords":24,"status":25,"ads":4,"focusLeagues":26,"affiliatePolicies":26},[],"shared","Football Prediction Platform","scores_predictions","USD",[],"main",[],"en-US",[],"Football fixtures, results, free predictions, subscriptions, and clearly labeled partner links.","{page} | Football Prediction Platform","America\u002FNew_York",323900000000000000,1,"football.easytestdev.online","US","",{"primaryColor":23},"#1677ff","football predictions, football fixtures, football results","active",null,{"active":28,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueImagePath":31,"seasonId":32,"seasonName":33,"startingAt":34,"endingAt":35,"daysToStart":36,"daysToEnd":37,"phase":38,"includeQualifying":39,"hostCities":40},true,"326135624916537344","World Cup","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fleagues\u002F1.png","326255613308833792","2026\u002F2027","2026-06-11","2026-06-28",-39,-22,"finished_recent",false,[41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60],"Atlanta","Boston","Dallas","East Rutherford","Guadalajara","Houston","Kansas City","Los Angeles","Mexico City","Miami","Monterrey","New-York","New York New Jersey","Philadelphia","San-Francisco","San Francisco Bay Area","Seattle","Toronto","Vancouver","Zapopan",{"article":62},{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":63,"category":64,"excerpt":65,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":66,"leagueId":67,"leagueName":68,"matchId":69,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":70,"slug":71,"sourceName":72,"sourceURL":73,"teamId":74,"teamName":75,"teamIds":76,"teamNames":84,"title":92},"Middlesbrough have been handed a remarkable reprieve in the Championship play-off race after Southampton were expelled for spying on their training session. The decision by an independent disciplinary panel means Boro, who lost the semi-final to Saints, will now face Hull City in the final at Wembley on Saturday.\n\nThe scandal, quickly dubbed 'Spygate', erupted when Middlesbrough caught Southampton intern William Salt filming their closed training session at Rockliffe Park, just 48 hours before the first leg of the semi-final. Boro immediately lodged a complaint with the EFL, triggering an investigation that has cast a dark shadow over the integrity of the competition.\n\nDespite the controversy, Southampton won the semi-final tie 3-1 on aggregate, with manager Kim Hellberg cutting a frustrated figure after the second leg at St Mary's. He spoke emotionally about the hours spent away from his family meticulously preparing, only to suspect opponents had cut ethical corners. But days later, the independent panel ruled that Southampton's actions warranted the ultimate sanction: expulsion from the play-offs.\n\nHellberg's reaction to the verdict was one of profound relief. \"It's a feeling of relief, happiness, a little bit of trust in doing the right thing and humanity,\" he told BBC Radio Tees. \"The right way to do it is working hard, not doing something else when everyone will see with the evidence and everything we know. It is quite clear what has been done and that should never be allowed in football.\"\n\nThe Swedish coach had been on an emotional rollercoaster since the second leg. He revealed he flew back to his homeland to escape the media frenzy, attending a match of his old club Hammarby. It was while having dinner with his young family that he received the news that Boro would be reinstated. \"You try to balance how much time you can give the players off but keeping them ready to come in,\" he said. \"It was better to give them as many days off as possible and try for them to do other things, so you don't just think about it, wait for it, talk about it. But it's been very, very tough.\"\n\nWith the final now just days away, the logistical scramble has been intense. Hellberg spent Thursday sorting travel arrangements and tickets for family, leaving minimal on-pitch preparation time. Yet he remains defiant: \"There's no excuses for us. We feel we'll be ready. The game is going ahead on Saturday, that's what everyone wants. It's best for English football in general. That's what we'll do.\"\n\nThe expulsion sends a strong message across the football league about the consequences of undermining fair play. It reinforces the principle that competitive advantage must be earned on the pitch, not through underhanded means. The severity of the punishment—complete removal from the competition—raises the bar for accountability and may deter future misconduct.\n\nFor Middlesbrough, the opportunity is immense. Having finished third in the regular season, they now have a second chance to secure a return to the Premier League. Facing Hull City, who overcame West Bromwich Albion in the other semi-final, Boro will be slight favorites at Wembley.\n\nHull, though, will be no pushovers. The Tigers have been one of the Championship's form teams and will relish the underdog tag. The final promises to be a tightly contested affair, with both clubs desperate to join the top flight and the financial windfall it brings.\n\nHellberg's men must channel the emotional turmoil of the past week into a focused performance. The coach's emphasis on \"no excuses\" suggests a group determined to prove they belong on the biggest stage. The Spygate outcome has restored a measure of justice, but only victory at Wembley will complete the fairytale comeback.\n\nThe football world will be watching closely, not just for the spectacle, but for how Middlesbrough respond to this unprecedented situation. Their journey from angry complaint to Wembley final in the space of seven days is a storyline that could galvanize even neutral supporters.\n\nAs Hellberg prepares his side, he knows that promotions are won on effort and honesty—values he believes have been vindicated. For a club whose very identity is rooted in hard work, this twist of fate feels almost poetic. Based on reporting from BBC Sport.","news","Southampton expelled from Championship play-offs after spying on Middlesbrough training; Boro to face Hull City at Wembley on Saturday in dramatic twist.","332963830646706177","326135624887177216","Championship","0","2026-05-21T17:01:59Z","why-middlesbrough-are-in-play-off-final-spygate-fallout","BBC Sport","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fcvgznxlejlpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss","326257807630274560","Southampton",[74,77,78,79,80,81,82,83],"326257808251031552","326257808125202432","326257745512632320","326222711535702016","326222707169431552","326222713142120448","326255038584328192",[75,85,86,87,88,89,90,91],"Middlesbrough","Hull City","Members","Sweden","Anderlecht","Canada","Legia Warszawa","Why Middlesbrough Are in Play-off Final: Spygate Fallout",[94,134,164,191],{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":64,"excerpt":95,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":96,"leagueId":67,"leagueName":68,"matchId":69,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":97,"slug":98,"sourceName":99,"sourceURL":100,"teamId":101,"teamName":102,"teamIds":103,"teamNames":118,"title":133},"Italy beat Spain 4-2 on penalties after 1-1 draw to set up a U17 European Championship final against Belgium, who eliminated France earlier.","338075747069464577","2026-06-04T19:28:40Z","italy-edge-spain-on-penalties-u17-euro-final-vs-belgium","L'Equipe","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FActualites\u002FL-italie-rejoint-la-belgique-en-finale-de-l-euro-des-moins-de-17-ans\u002F1681874#at_medium=RSS_feeds","326257661500723200","Italy",[101,104,105,106,107,108,109,110,111,112,113,114,115,116,117,81],"326222711401484288","326222712936599552","326222767416414208","326255039846813696","326255041625198592","326257536296554496","326257536413995008","326257537865224192","326257539844935680","326257664680005632","326257696636407808","326222711447621632","326222711569256448","326222711653142528",[102,119,120,121,122,123,124,125,126,127,128,129,130,131,132,89],"Belgium","Paraguay","Lesotho","FK Partizan","Partizani","Auxerre","Paris FC","Estoril","Parma","Estonia","Azzurri","France","Brazil","Spain","Italy Edge Spain on Penalties: U17 Euro Final vs Belgium",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":64,"excerpt":135,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":136,"leagueId":67,"leagueName":68,"matchId":69,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":137,"slug":138,"sourceName":139,"sourceURL":140,"teamId":141,"teamName":142,"teamIds":143,"teamNames":153,"title":163},"Italy U17 edged Spain 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, goalkeeper Lupo saving two spot-kicks, to book a U17 Euro final vs Belgium on June 7. Lupo also saved","338067843268481025","2026-06-04T19:13:51Z","italy-u17-beat-spain-on-penalties-set-up-final-vs-belgium","Tuttosport","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tuttosport.com\u002Fnews\u002Fcalcio\u002Fitalia\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F04-149032827\u002Fl_italia_u17_batte_la_spagna_ai_rigori_e_vola_in_finale_dell_europeo_ecco_chi_affronta\u002F","326255039347691520","Fiorentina",[141,144,145,146,147,148,149,150,151,104,117,101,81,152],"326222712592666624","326222713054040064","326255039171530752","326255041851691008","326257536372051968","326257546220277760","326257554193649664","326222712143876096","326222712496197632",[142,154,155,156,157,158,159,160,161,119,132,102,89,162],"Congo DR","Haiti","Dinamo Minsk","Cherno More Varna","Metz","Chelsea","Perth Glory","Portugal","Netherlands","Italy U17 Beat Spain on Penalties, Set Up Final vs Belgium",{"awayTeamId":165,"awayTeamName":166,"body":-1,"category":64,"excerpt":167,"homeTeamId":168,"homeTeamName":169,"id":170,"leagueId":67,"leagueName":68,"matchId":171,"matchName":172,"publishedAt":173,"slug":174,"sourceName":72,"sourceURL":175,"teamId":176,"teamName":177,"teamIds":178,"teamNames":184,"title":190},"326255038148120576","Hibernian","Celtic hold constructive talks with Robbie Keane and plan discussions with Martin O'Neill as manager search continues; Rangers target Hampus Skoglund.","326257567044997120","Rangers","337875415949381633","327053940279480320","Rangers vs Hibernian","2026-06-04T06:36:46Z","why-celtic-talks-keane-o-neill-manager-search","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fcp9pd3l5mp2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss","326257567011442688","Celtic",[176,168,165,179,180,81,181,182,183,80,82],"326257539333230592","326257546153168896","326255038768877568","326255044473131008","326257590021394432",[177,169,166,185,186,89,187,188,189,88,90],"AC Milan","West Ham","Hammarby FF","Hamrun Spartans","Toronto FC","Why Celtic Talks Keane & O'Neill: Manager Search",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":64,"excerpt":192,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":193,"leagueId":67,"leagueName":68,"matchId":69,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":194,"slug":195,"sourceName":99,"sourceURL":196,"teamId":115,"teamName":130,"teamIds":197,"teamNames":207,"title":217},"France U17 face Belgium in the Euro U17 semi-final on Thursday 4 June at 13:30 CEST, live on L'Equipe Live foot. Les Bleuets aim for a fourth title after","337848745020362753","2026-06-04T04:50:00Z","france-u17-vs-belgium-kick-off-time-tv-channel-for-euro","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FActualites\u002FA-quelle-heure-et-sur-quelle-chaine-voir-france-belgique\u002F1681339#at_medium=RSS_feeds",[115,104,198,199,106,200,201,202,203,204,205,113,79,206],"326257786696503296","326222707404312576","326222767449968640","326257544295092224","326257563228180480","326257565845426176","326257664877137920","326257661421031424","326257600737841152",[130,119,208,209,121,210,211,212,213,214,215,128,87,216],"Les Bleuets","Charleroi","Chad","Chapecoense-sc","Groningen","Mallorca","Montenegro","Denmark","Junior","France U17 vs Belgium: Kick-Off Time, TV Channel for Euro"]