Southampton expelled from Championship playoff final for 'spygate'
Southampton has been expelled from the Championship playoffs over the "spygate" scandal, the English Football League announced on Tuesday, May 19. The Saints were scheduled to face Hull City on Saturday, May 23 with a place in the Premier League at stake but it will now be Middlesbrough — which Southampton defeated in the semifinal — that has been reinstated into the final. "An Independent Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs after the Club admitted to multiple breaches of EFL Regulations related to the unauthorized filming of other Clubs’ training," an EFL statement read.
"In addition, the Club has received a four-point deduction that will be applied to the 2026/27 Championship table, alongside a reprimand in respect of all the charges. "The effect of today’s order is that Middlesbrough are reinstated into the 2026 Play-Offs and will proceed to the Play-Off Final against Hull City. The final remains scheduled for Saturday 23 May, with the kick-off time to be confirmed.
" The EFL said that Southampton had a right to appeal the decision, which it was aiming to resolve by Wednesday, May 20. If the appeal is successful, the EFL said that Southampton could regain its place in the final. "Southampton was first charged on Friday 8 May, with further charges issued on Sunday 17 May in relation to additional breaches during the 2025/26 season.
Those additional charges arose from matters identified after the initial proceedings involving Middlesbrough were initiated. "Southampton admitted breaches of Regulations requiring Clubs to act with the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another Club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match. The admitted breaches concern fixtures against Oxford United in December 2025, Ipswich Town in April 2026 and Middlesbrough in May 2026.
" Middlesbrough reported Southampton to the EFL ahead of the teams' playoff semifinal first leg on May 7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Southampton out of Championship playoff final for spy scandal