Middlesbrough player Luke Ayling has decided not to pursue allegations of a discriminatory remark made by Southampton's Taylor Harwood-Bellis during the Championship play-off semi-final on Tuesday night. The Football Association has closed the matter, although it adds to Southampton's troubles amid serious disciplinary issues related to alleged spying.

Initially, Ayling alerted referee Andrew Madley about Harwood-Bellis referencing his stammer, prompting the referee to pause the game and consult with both teams' coaches. Following a review, the FA reached out to Middlesbrough on Wednesday, only to learn that Ayling did not wish to escalate the allegation.

This development provides a slight reprieve for Southampton, who are currently facing charges from the English Football League (EFL) regarding claims they spied on a Middlesbrough training session last week. The timing for a hearing by an independent commission to investigate these ‘Spygate’ charges remains uncertain, but the EFL has requested an expedited review.

Phil Parsons, Southampton's chief executive, issued a statement on Tuesday morning, asking for sufficient time to respond to the charges. Possible sanctions from the commission could range from a warning to expulsion. If a points penalty is recommended, the Premier League board could enforce it next season if Southampton achieves promotion.

On Wednesday, the Daily Mail revealed photographs of an individual allegedly caught filming Middlesbrough's training session, identified as part of head coach Tonda Eckert’s staff. Despite these issues, Southampton is continuing preparations for the play-off final, with ticket sales set to start on Friday morning and a range of merchandise available for fans.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough players were traveling north on Wednesday and scheduled for a debrief on Thursday, with their plans unaffected by the ongoing ‘Spygate’ situation.