Southampton captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis had words with Middlesbrough defender Luke Ayling during the Championship play-off semi-final second leg on Tuesday nightTaylor Harwood-Bellis and Luke Ayling clashed on Tuesday night(Image: Warren Little/Getty Images)Taylor Harwood-Bellis has escaped any punishment for his alleged discriminatory remarks towards Luke Ayling after the Middlesbrough defender chose not to take the matter further. The Southampton captain was seen having words with Ayling in the first half of their Championship play-off semi-final second leg, prompting referee Andy Madley to stop play.Ayling told Madley that Harwood-Bellis had said something discriminatory towards him. The referee then walked over to the touchline to inform both managers and the fourth official, prompting a clash between Tonda Eckert and Kim Hellberg.The match continued, with Southampton winning 2-1 in extra-time thanks to a late goal from Shea Charles. They will play Hull City in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on May 23, unless the investigation into their alleged spying on Middlesbrough changes things.Harwood-Bellis will be available to play against Hull after the Football Association confirmed the incident with Ayling will not be pursued. The FA checked the referee’s report and spoke to Middlesbrough, who passed on Ayling’s wishes.JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football’s Facebook pageREAD MORE: Southampton ‘spy’ named as he drops bank card clanger that could have huge ramificationsREAD MORE: Southampton Spygate saga escalates as Middlesbrough send dossier with new complaint to EFLThe two players were shown speaking amicably to each other later in the match, having seemingly resolved the argument.Both managers were asked about the incident after the match. “I don’t think this is my place to say,” Hellberg said. “On the pitch things happen and it’s not my role to explain in terms of that, it’s better that the people involved do that.”I think [Eckert’s aggression] was in the heat of the moment, and feelings and emotions which are things we love about football. I don’t know exactly about that situation but Luke is of course devastated we have not gone through.”Luke Ayling has decided not to pursue any further action(Image: Robin Jones/Getty Images)Eckert added: “I don’t have an understanding of the situation yet. But I have seen that the two of them spoke straight after the game and there was obviously a lot of…
Try WordAi Free
2026-05-13 18:20:32
