Spying scandal rocks English soccer as Southampton expelled from world's richest match

SOUTHAMPTON, England, May 19 : Southampton have been thrown out of Saturday’s Championship playoff final – the richest game in world soccer – after being found guilty of spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough in one of the harshest punishments imposed in the English game.

Tuesday's decision by an English Football League-appointed Independent Disciplinary Commission dramatically rewrites the second-tier promotion race and hands Boro an unlikely reprieve after they lost 2-1 on aggregate to Southampton in the semis.

Middlesbrough have now been reinstated and will face Hull City at Wembley on Saturday in a match routinely dubbed the richest in world soccer because of the financial windfall attached to promotion to the Premier League.

Even a single season in the Premier League, followed by immediate relegation, is estimated to be worth around 200 million pounds ($268.10 million) over three seasons through broadcast revenue, sponsorship and parachute payments.

Southampton admitted the charge of illegally spying on an opponent within 72 hours of a scheduled match, and also admitted similarly filming training sessions involving Oxford United in December and Ipswich Town in April during the regular season.

Southampton failed to win any of those games.

The club had made no statement by midnight, but multiple reports said they were planning to appeal the severity of the punishment.

The EFL had said in announcing Southampton's expulsion that the club could appeal and that "parties are working to try and resolve any appeal on Wednesday 20 May."

The EFL said that subject to the outcome, it could result in a further change to Saturday's fixture, leaving the south-coast club with a glimmer of hope.

UNPRECEDENTED RULING

The unprecedented