Southampton kicked out of Championship play-off final over spying scandal | OneFootball

Southampton have been expelled from the Championship play-offs for spying, and Middlesbrough will now face Hull City in the final at Wembley on Saturday.

Southampton, who had beaten Boro 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, admitted multiple breaches of Football League regulations and said they were guilty of unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training sessions.

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Southampton have been punished by the English Football League (PA)

An independent disciplinary commission has also given Southampton a four-point deduction, which will apply to next season’s Championship.

Middlesbrough, who had called for Southampton to be thrown out of the play-offs after catching a performance-analysis intern filming from behind a tree, got their wish.

Kim Hellberg’s side have continued training since their 2-1 defeat at St Mary’s last week so that they would be ready in case they were readmitted to the play-offs.

“Middlesbrough Football Club welcomes the outcome of today’s Disciplinary Commission hearing,” a statement said.

“We believe this sends out a clear message for the future of our game regarding sporting integrity and conduct. As a club, we are now focused on our game against Hull City at Wembley on Saturday.

Boro had inferred that Southampton had also spied on other clubs, and Saints admitted they had done it for two other games – December’s 2-1 defeat to Oxford and April’s 2-2 draw against Ipswich.

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Middlesbrough will now face Hull in the Championship play-off final (Reuters)

Southampton have exercised their right to appeal against the decision – as do the EFL – but were found guilty of breaching EFL Regulation 3.4, which requires clubs to act towards each other with the utmost good faith, and EFL Regulation 127, which forbids clubs from observing other clubs’ training within 72 hours of a match.

Regulation 127 was introduced after Leeds admitted spying on Derby’s training sessions in 2019. They were punished with a £200,000 fine, which manager Marcelo Bielsa paid himself.

The EFL had made contingency plans for the play-off final in case it did not go ahead on Saturday, but has now confirmed it will – but with Middlesbrough, who finished fifth in the Championship, facing Hull, who beat Millwall in their semi-final.

Southampton’s appeal will be heard on Wednesday, though, which means the date and make-up of the play-off final could still subject to change.