South Coast | Southampton kicked out of play-offs

A dramatic Championship season gets even more dramatic

Southampton have been thrown out of the play-offs after admitting they spied on three different clubs during the Championship season.

Author | Curtis R

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— European Super Football (@eurosuperfootball.bsky.social) 19 May 2026 at 19:18

The EFL charged Saints with watching training sessions of Oxford United and Ipswich Town, in addition to filming Middlesbrough as they prepared for the first leg of their play-off semi-final on 7 May.

The independent disciplinary commission also handed Southampton a four-point deduction in the Championship for next season.

Middlesbrough, beaten by Southampton in the semi-final, have been reinstated and will now play Hull City for a place in the Premier League.

Pre match scenes before the Championship play-off semi-final

The final will remain on Saturday at Wembley with the kick-off time to be confirmed.

It had also been confirmed that Middlesbrough were preparing for the match implying they were confident about this decision being made. 

Southampton had admitted to "multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs' training", the EFL said.

The club have also received a reprimand in respect of all the charges.

What actually happened?

It was the morning of Thursday, 7 May. Middlesbrough were at their Rockliffe Park training ground preparing for the visit of Southampton 48 hours later.

The alleged spy, a Southampton analyst, is said to have parked at the nearby golf club before walking a few hundred yards along a road leading to a raised area overlooking the site.