The most valuable match in world soccer is mired in controversy through a decidedly low-value spying scandal: An intern for second-tier English side Southampton was spotted spying on a practice for their playoff opponent, Middlesbrough. They’re calling it Spygate 2.0, because there’s already been a similar scandal in English soccer, although with smaller stakes.

• Southampton and Middlesbrough finished in fourth and fifth place in the league, and were pitted against each other in the promotion playoff. As Middlesbrough practiced for their match, they noticed somebody standing behind a tree, filming them. Photos of the man have since been published in The Athletic.

• Middlesbrough matched his image to a Southampton intern. Middlesbrough’s owner then found that the guy used his credit card to buy a coffee at the owner’s golf club a few hundred feet from the training ground.

• Southampton ended up beating Middlesbrough in the second leg of the semifinals, advancing to the winner-take-all final against Hull City.

• What’s the punishment? Unclear! It seems like everything’s on the table. Right now, the championship playoff final is scheduled for next weekend between Southampton and Hull City, although the EFL board has noted that it could be moved.

• This incident doesn’t just effect the 2025-26 season, and how we’ll view it retrospectively. The punishment will impact who will be in the biggest soccer league on Earth next year! If Southampton gets promoted, it could change everything about their club — and if they’re held back, they could spend decades regretting their shoddy psyop.