Southampton have been expelled from the Championship play-off final after admitting to spying on other clubs, with Middlesbrough — who they defeated in the semi-final stage — reinstated.The Championship play-off final will now take place between Middlesbrough and Hull City at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, May 23. The kick-off time is yet to be confirmed.The south-coast club will appeal the decision, made by an English Football League’s (EFL) Independent Disciplinary Commission, which also sees them handed a four-point deduction for the 2026-27 season in the Championship.The EFL said in a statement that Southampton had “admitted to multiple breaches of EFL Regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training”.Middlesbrough said the club “welcomes” the outcome, which it says sends 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. Ticket information for our supporters will be available shortly,” they added.
Southampton are yet to comment.The EFL statement detailed: “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.”Southampton lost the Oxford fixture 2-1, and drew against Ipswich 2-2.The statement continued: “The EFL is now in discussion with all three clubs regarding the implications of today’s decision and will make a further announcement in due course.”Among Middlesbrough’s evidence submitted was the above photo of the alleged ‘spy’ (The Athletic)The winner of the Championship play-off final earns promotion to the Premier League. The Athletic reported last May that winning the game now guarantees at least £200million in broadcast income over the following three seasons for the triumphant team.The EFL charge came last week after a Southampton analyst, William Salt, allegedly observed Middlesbrough’s training session 48 hours before the teams met in the play-off semi-final first leg. The match finished 0-0 but Southampton won the tie 2-1 with a stoppage-time goal in the second leg at St Mary’s.Among Middlesbrough’s evidence submitted was a photo of the alleged ‘spy’, a member of head coach Tonda Eckert’s backroom analysis team, half-covered by a tree at their Rockliffe Park training ground holding up his mobile phone. The club also had a statement from a former member of Southampton’s staff regarding the practise of ‘spying’ on opponents before matches, according to sources briefed on the matter.Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic had warned against delaying the final, not wanting to see his club become “collateral damage” after they beat Millwall 2-0 on aggregate to reach the final. It is the first time since 2016 that Hull have been in the Championship play-off final, which they won.Southampton finished the league season fourth on 80 points — level with Middlesbrough in fifth — and seven above Hull in sixth.
