City v Boro play-off final confirmed as Saints lose Spygate appeal
GAME ON: Hull City will play Middlesbrough at Wembley on Saturday
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
Hull City will face Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday after Southampton’s appeal against expulsion from the fixture was dismissed.
Kick-off has been confirmed for 3.30pm.
Saints had been due to line-up against the Tigers after beating Boro over two legs in their play-off semi final, while City booked their date in football’s richest game – with a place in the Premier League at stake – after beating Millwall.
But the south-coast club was sensationally dumped out of the competition last night by an Independent Disciplinary Commission after admitting spying against three clubs.
Southampton appealed against the sanctions imposed, which also include a four-point deduction at the start of next season’s Championship, but that appeal was rejected tonight. They have no further right to appeal.
In a statement, the English Football League (EFL) said: “A League Arbitration Panel has tonight dismissed Southampton Football Club’s appeal against the Independent Disciplinary Commission’s sanction following the admittance of multiple breaches of EFL Regulations.
“The determination means that the original sanction of expulsion from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs 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 Club submitted its appeal following yesterday’s decision of the Independent Disciplinary Commission in respect of breaches of EFL Regulations. As per EFL Regulations, the decision of the League Arbitration Panel is final and cannot be appealed.
“Following the conclusion of the proceedings, the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final between Hull City and Middlesbrough is confirmed as taking place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 23 May, kicking off at 3:30pm.
“The League Arbitration Panel’s written reasons will be published in due course along with the Independent Disciplinary Commission’s full decision.”
The panel’s decision brings a conclusion to the so-called Spygate affair that has rocked football – and left City and their fans not knowing who their opponents would be, or when the game would take place – just three days before the club’s biggest match in a decade.
The scandal was sparked after Middlesbrough complained that a training session ahead of the first leg of their play-off semi-final against Southampton had been observed and possibly filmed by a man acting on behalf of the south-coast club. After being challenged he was said to have run off before changing his clothes in a nearby golf club and leaving the area.
That was not their only offence. As well as admitting spying against Boro, Saints also admitted spying against Oxford United in December last year and against Ipswich Town last month.