Southampton expelled from EFL playoff final after spying breach

LONDON: Southampton have ‌been kicked out of the Championship playoffs after being found guilty of spying on semifinal opponents Middlesbrough, the English Football League said on Tuesday.
Middlesbrough, who lost 2-1 to Southampton in the two-legged semifinal, have been re-instated and will now face Hull City on Saturday in what is dubbed the world’s richest soccer match.
Promotion to the Premier League is estimated ‌to be ‌worth in the region of ‌200 ⁠million pounds over ⁠three seasons.
Southampton have also been deducted four points for next season in England’s second-tier.
“An Independent Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the... Championship play-offs after the club admitted multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the ⁠unauthorized filming of other clubs’ training,” ‌the EFL said ‌in a statement.
“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.