Ayling to face Leeds loanee Gelhardt as Middlesbrough return to Championship play-off final after Southampton expulsion | OneFootball

Luke Ayling is set to face Leeds United loanee Joe Gelhardt at Wembley after Middlesbrough were returned to the Championship play-off final.

The EFL said in a statement that Southampton were expelled after admitting multiple breaches linked to unauthorised filming of rivals’ training. They also received a four-point deduction for 2026/27. The final remains scheduled for Saturday 23 May, kick-off to be confirmed.

Middlesbrough had lost their semi-final 2-1 on aggregate to Southampton amid controversy, but kept preparing for a possible final while the investigation ran. Saints head coach Tonda Eckert has admitted spying on three clubs.

Rules require clubs to act with utmost good faith and ban observing an opponent’s training within 72 hours of a match. The breaches covered Oxford United in December 2025, Ipswich Town in April 2026 and Middlesbrough in May 2026.

Southampton have appealed, with a fast-tracked hearing scheduled today ahead of the weekend final.

Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa were fined £200,000 in 2018/19 after staff watched Derby County train, a case that led to a new rule.

Ayling was in that Leeds squad and is now on the other side, having trained with Boro this week before Wembley. Hull finished sixth and beat third-place Millwall in their semi-final. Gelhardt scored in the second leg at The Den, his 15th goal of the campaign.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk