Southampton lose appeal, Middlesbrough to face Hull in C’ship play-off
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Southampton have been thrown out of the May 23 Championship play-off final after being found guilty of spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Hull City will play Middlesbrough for a place in the English Premier League, after Southampton failed on May 20 to overturn their expulsion from the Championship play-off final for spying on opponents.
Southampton were thrown out of the final on May 19 and handed a four-point deduction for next season, after they had beaten semi-final opponents Middlesbrough.
“The original sanction of expulsion... remains in place, as does the four-point deduction to be applied to the 2026-27 Championship table and the reprimand in respect of all charges,” the English Football League said in a statement.
The final will be at London’s Wembley Stadium on May 23.
Southampton had admitted the charge of illegally spying on an opponent within 72 hours of a scheduled match. The alleged spy was caught recording a Middlesbrough training session from behind a tree ahead of the first leg.
The south-coast club beat Boro 2-1 on aggregate to reach the final, considered the richest game in world football with £200 million (S$343.6 million) guaranteed over three seasons through broadcast revenue, sponsorship and parachute payments.
Although Southampton chief executive Phil Parsons said the club accepted that there should be sanctions, he added that it could not accept one “which bears no proportion to the offence”.
Southampton also admitted similarly filming training sessions involving Oxford United in December and Ipswich Town in April during the regular season.
Middlesbrough had demanded Southampton be kicked out of the final to “protect the integrity of the game” while threatening to take legal action if required.
“This is an extremely disappointing outcome for everybody connected with Southampton Football Club,” the Saints said in a statement after the verdict.
“We know how painful this moment will be for our supporters, players, staff, commercial partners and the wider community who have given so much backing to the team throughout the season and we apologise once again to everyone impacted by this.
“It is clear that trust now needs to be rebuilt. That work begins immediately.”
The legal ramifications could rumble on, with Hull City owner Acun Ilicali suggesting his club should go straight to the Premier League because Middlesbrough had not qualified for the final on the field.
“The Southampton decision is arguably one of the most consequential sports disciplinary decisions to date and certainly is in terms of its potential financial impact,” said Andrew Street, a partner at law firm BCLP.
“Sponsors, players and other clubs will now be looking at the detail of the decision and its implications.
“Commercial partners of Saints are likely to look at their options, including termination or claims for breach of any reputational damage clauses that sponsors often insist upon.” REUTERS
