Spygate: Southampton kicked out of play-off final after multiple breaches

Southampton have been kicked out of the Championship play-off final after admitting to multiple breaches of spying on opponents.

The EFL have ruled that Middlesbrough will be reinstated and will take on Hull City in Saturday's final, in a remarkable turn of events.

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The Saints have also been handed a four-point deduction for the 2026/27 season, after they accepted they had spied not just on Boro, but ahead of games against Oxford United in December and Ipswich Town in April.

Boro are said to have remained in training since they lost last week's semi-final second leg in case they earned a reprieve, which has now been confirmed.

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 unauthorised filming of other Clubs’ training. In addition, the Club has received a… pic.twitter.com/VxyXFk48BA

— EFL Communications (@EFL_Comms) May 19, 2026

The Teessiders raised suspicions when they found a Saints analyst filming their training session two days before the first leg at the Riverside, which contravenes rules about observation of sessions within 72 hours of a game.

Oxford and Ipswich have since come forward with concerns of their own that led to new charges and an even stronger punishment.

Boro boss Kim Hellberg outwardly accused Saints of cheating after the first leg and an independent panel agree, handing out a punishment that makes extraordinary EFL history.

Southampton could appeal the verdict and that case would be heard on Wednesday, just three days before the scheduled final.