The English Football Association (FA) has decided to launch another full investigation into Southampton to uncover the mastermind behind the "spygate" controversy..

Sky Sports exclusively reported on Thursday that the English Football Association (FA) has decided to launch another full investigation into Southampton to uncover the mastermind behind the "spygate" controversy.

According to the report, the FA's Ethics and Disciplinary Committee received reliable inside information from investigative journalists from The Athletic and The Telegraph during hearings on the controversial incident. The information revealed that the spying was carried out with the "personal authorization" of head coach Tonda Eckert.

Meanwhile, William Salt, who was caught illegally recording spying activities with his mobile phone under a tree outside the fence of Middlesbrough's Rockliffe Park training ground, was not only a privately hired analyst for Eckert's personal team, but also an intern employed by Southampton.

At the hearings, Salt and Southampton officials initially denied all allegations, only admitting to some violations under intense questioning.

The report also added that because Southampton continues to argue that such "spying" is permitted in some other European leagues and football associations, and therefore insists they are not entirely at fault, the English Football Association (FA) has been forced to intervene and conduct a further full investigation into the controversy to uncover the true mastermind behind it.

It is worth mentioning that while the English Football League (EFL) does have the authority to investigate Southampton's alleged "spying" of Middlesbrough, Oxford United, and Ipswich Town, its authority is limited to imposing sanctions on the club, including administrative point deductions, fines, and disqualification from the promotion play-offs final.

The FA, however, possesses all of the aforementioned sanctioning powers, as well as the right to identify the mastermind behind the incident for appropriate and severe punishment, and even the possibility of administrative relegation for Southampton.

On the other hand, the report also emphasized that the FA's investigation aims to verify whether Eckert, as accused by witnesses at the hearing, did indeed "personally authorize" and instruct Salt to conduct these "spying" activities against Middlesbrough.

Meanwhile, authorities also need to investigate whether the club's Serbian owner, Dragan Solak, was aware of these illegal activities but failed to report them. Many British journalists speculate that the disgraced Ekert is likely to be sacked.

In any case, the EFL Championship club will face severe punishment, and it is a foregone conclusion that Boro will be reinstated to replace Southampton.

Furthermore, many people feel sorry for other the finalist, Hull City.

As the EFL Championship promotion play-offs final will be held this Saturday (May 23rd) in the UK, with the aftermath of this controversial incident continues, many worried that public opinion may affect the mental state and preparation of the Tigers' players and coaching staff.

Image source: Internet