When Southampton will find out their Spygate appeal fate play-offs expulsion | OneFootball

The Saints have been punished for their spying actions, but could another big change be coming?

In one of the most shocking decisions in EFL history, Southampton have been booted out of the Championship play-offs as a result of 'Spygate'.

Chaos ensued in the build-up to the Saints' semi-final clash with Middlesbrough when they were charged with spying on their opposition less than 72 hours before a match, which is against EFL rules and regulations.

Southampton ended up securing a spot in the final at Wembley against Hull City thanks to Shea Charles' extra time goal in the second leg at St Mary's Stadium, but their spot in that clash was never a guarantee due to the seriousness of the charge hanging over their head.

And an independent commission has ruled Southampton guilty of not just spying on Middlesbrough, but also Oxford United and Ipswich Town during the regular season, and not only will they be deducted four points before a ball has even been kicked in the 2026-27 season, but the panel has decided that they will no longer be a part of the play-off final this coming weekend.

It is an incredibly bold and unprecedented stance to take, but the drama may not be over.

Southampton set to appeal Spygate decision - but when will the result be found out?

As the EFL explained in their revelation of Southampton being kicked out of the play-offs, the Saints are entitled to appeal the decision made by the independent commission - and that is exactly what they intend to do, as per multiple reports coming out, and Sky Sports have claimed that the club think they have a 'very strong chance' that they will be re-instated into Saturday's final.

That appeal will be heard by a separate and new three-person panel - League Arbitration Panel - on Wednesday, and Alan Nixon has now reported that the result of that appeal will be delivered 'tomorrow night' (the evening of May 20).

It will mean that between the planned kick-off time of the play-off final between Hull and Middlesbrough on Saturday at 4:30pm is less than 72 hours after the Saints will find out whether or not they are back in the match, or whether they are consigned to the Championship next season for good.

Southampton will surely not have Spygate decision reversed at this stage - their Wembley fate seems sealed

You get the feeling that Southampton were going to launch an appear no matter what the outcome was if it was negative for them - and they've been dealt the worst possible blow to their promotion chances.

The hierarchy would have been hoping for a financial penalty instead of a sporting one, but the independent commission took a pretty dim view of their actions, and they no longer have a chance of landing a huge Premier League windfall at Wembley.

But the admission of their guilt for spying not only on Middlesbrough but two other clubs is not going to go down well with any appeals panel you'd think, and as time ticks down to Saturday's planned final, there surely can be no justification of a U-turn on such a big decision after just 24 hours.

You of course have to feel sorry for Southampton supporters that have bought tickets and non-refundable accomodation and travel, but in the interest of sporting fairness, the new final of Hull versus Middlesbrough will surely now go ahead as planned.