India, May 10 -- England's second-tier Championship has been hit with another spying controversy. Southampton was charged by the English Football League late Friday with a breach of its regulations after being accused of the unauthorised filming of Middlesbrough's practice sessions ahead of the teams' meeting in the Championship playoffs.

The matter will be referred, the EFL said in a statement, to an independent disciplinary commission, which will be asked to undertake a hearing "at the earliest opportunity" given the nature of the issue and with the playoff matches taking place so soon.

The first leg is on Saturday, at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium. The second leg is on Tuesday in Southampton. The EFL said the charges against Sout...