\n<\/p>\n
Saints are accused of breaking two regulations: <\/p>\n
EFL Regulation 3.4<\/b>, which requires clubs to act towards each other with the utmost good faith; and<\/p>\n
EFL Regulation 127<\/b>, which prohibits any club from observing, or attempting to observe, another club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match between the two clubs.<\/p>\n
“Under EFL regulations, Southampton would ordinarily have 14 days to respond to the charges,” the league’s statement added.<\/p>\n
“However, given the nature of the matter, the EFL will ask the independent disciplinary commission to shorten the response period and to list a hearing at the earliest opportunity.”<\/p>\n
Southampton said the club “acknowledges the statement issued by the EFL in relation to alleged breaches of EFL regulations”.<\/p>\n
It added: “We can confirm that we will be fully cooperating with the league throughout this process.<\/p>\n
“Given the ongoing nature of the matter, the club is unable to comment any further at this time.”<\/p>\n
The first leg of their semi-final takes place at Riverside Stadium on Saturday (12:30 BST<\/a>), with the return at St Mary’s on Tuesday.<\/p>\n The rule against spying was brought in seven years ago after Leeds United were fined \u00a3200,000<\/a> by the EFL for watching opponents train before matches.<\/p>\n A member of Leeds’ staff was found acting suspiciously outside Derby’s training ground before a fixture between the two sides on 10 January 2019.<\/p>\n Manager Marcelo Bielsa revealed he had sent a member of staff to watch training sessions of every team Leeds had played that season.<\/p>\n The EFL found Leeds breached rules over treating teams with “good faith”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n