Southampton players are considering taking the club to court over the "spygate" scandal..

The Athletic exclusively reported on Wednesday that Southampton players are considering taking the club to court over the "spygate" scandal.

According to the report, sources have confirmed that the players were completely unaware that head coach Tonda Eckert had hired outsourced data analysts to illegally spy on the training sessions and tactical plans of several other clubs. They are furious about being unjustly dragged into the sanctions the club is now facing.

The players believe that they already faced a 40% pay cut after last season's relegation from the Premier League, and now this scandal has cost them the chance to return to England's top flight. They not only lose the opportunity for higher wages that come with promotion, but their reputations have also been severely damaged by this controversy.

Furthermore, the report confirms that the players learned of the club's disqualification from the EFL Championship promotion play-offs final and the subsequent four-point deduction just as the official statements and press releases from the relevant regulatory bodies were released. Prior to that, they were completely unaware of the details and were deeply disappointed by the denial of their right to know.

Given the seriousness of the situation, the players have decided to collectively request a meeting with Southampton's management and Eckert to clarify the full picture.

Meanwhile, inside sources confirm that the players have contacted the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) for assistance and are not ruling out legal action against Southampton.

On the other hand, the English Football League (EFL) issued a statement on the same day confirming that it had rejected Southampton's appeal regarding the sanctions imposed in this controversy.

According to the EFL's official statement, the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee found no grounds for the appeal to be accepted and decided to dismiss Southampton's appeal, upholding the committee's decision as final.

Furthermore, the EFL announced that Middlesbrough's reinstatement to the final has been finalized.

The rescheduled EFL Championship promotion play-offs final will be held at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, May 23rd at 3:30 pm local time.

Hull City and Borowill compete for the final promotion spot to the Premier League, vying for the £200 million prize in what is considered the "highest-paying annual match in football history".

Southampton are reportedly very unhappy with the rejection of their appeal and are considering legal action to protect their "best interests".

However, most journalists believe that given the solid evidence against Southampton for alleged wrongdoing, the EFL Championship club's chances of winning are slim.

Image source: Internet / The Athletic