Football fans have reacted with fury at the chaotic “spygate” shambles surrounding the £300m winner-takes-all Championship play-off final. Southampton were banned from playing in the match after admitting to secretly spying on opponents’ training sessions. But the decision sparked controversy, angering Saints supporters and both Middlesbrough and Hull, who have been caught up in the legal mess.
Southampton appealed against their expulsion from the Championship play-offs, but the club announced on Wednesday night they had lost that appeal. Middlesbrough will face Hull in Saturday's play-off final, with the game kicking off at 3.30pm, the EFL has confirmed.
It has emerged that Southampton players are even looking at suing their own club for potential loss of earnings next season. Fans want to be compensated for hotel rooms and train tickets they had booked and paid for the game at Wembley on Saturday.
An EFL statement read: "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.
It’s known as the ‘most valuable football match in the world’ as it’s worth £300m to the victors who win promotion to the lucrative Premier League with increased TV rights, hospitality and advertising. It shows how important promotion is - even losing every game and finishing bottom secures any club £109m.
Public relations consultant Mark Borkowski said: “This will have ramifications for years to come. It will have a huge impact on Southampton Football Club. I feel so sorry for the Southampton fans. Southampton haven’t handled this well. Those goal celebrations with the binoculars … it’s like the whole club knew. There’s a sense of shock and a real level of stupidity. They can recover from this but they need to regain the trust of their fans.”
Author and financial expert Kieran Maguire said that not going up will be a huge financial blow. Last night Southampton made a last-ditch appeal to try and change the decision which will see Hull play Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Russell Kitching, a Southampton fan speaking outside their home stadium St Mary's said: “We're a laughing stock.” He said loyal fans "don't want to be labelled as cheats". He is calling for every fan to be given £1,500 and a free season ticket for next year's campaign. He added: “Gutted, absolutely gutted, lost for words, I am literally lost for words. I didn’t think this would happen.”
Alison Monckton said Saints are her passion, but feels 'done with football'. She said: “I have been a Saints fan for 50 years. I have never been so done with football as I have right now. Saints are my passion and I am sure there are hundreds of fans feeling as let down as I.”
David Skelcher said: "The club owe the fans a massive apology for cheating, get all our tickets for Wembley paid immediately, and you should return all season ticket sales for last season, bloody sickening." Martin Sanders runs a Saints fan channel on YouTube and had booked tickets, travel and hotel. He says that the spy allegations had left him feeling ‘grubby’ and says fans have been let down. Asked how he felt about the news, he said: “Ashamed, disgusted, gutted, let down. Massively let down.” But Middlesbrough fans were delighted at their reprieve but angry at the lateness of the decision so close to the match.
At the Riverside Stadium fans queued for tickets on Wednesday. The first set of Boro fans bought tickets from 1pm. The club has been allocated nearly 36,000 tickets. Supporter and podcaster Jimmy Lees said: "It would have been massively unfair to the ethics of game of football. If Southampton were able to play in the final on Saturday, what example would that set for everyone else in football? Is it worth cheating to try and get that unfair advantage? Thankfully the EFL stood firm, gave their punishment and kicked Southampton out of the final. Now it is Middlesbrough's opportunity to play Hull and hopefully get Premier League promotion." Fellow fan Chris Saunders added: "I am stunned. Stuff like this doesn't happen to Boro - we are used to our hopes being dashed and bitter disappointment. I was expecting them to get away with it and a big fine."
Southampton supporters who had bought Wembley tickets will be given full refunds. It emerged that their own players have consulted the players union the PFA to get legal advice. Salaries and bonuses would be much higher in the Premiership. It’s understood none of the players were aware of the spying missions to Middlesbrough earlier this month and Ipswich and Oxford United earlier in the season. Southampton offered a full apology. Chief executive Phil Parsons said: "What happened was wrong. The club has admitted breaches of EFL Regulations 3.4 and 127. We are sorry to the other clubs involved, and most of all to the Southampton supporters whose extraordinary loyalty and support this season deserved better from the club."
Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier has compared the club's punishment to like being "put on trial for murder, when all you've done is stolen a Mars bar". Among the financial issues that come into play as well as prize money and TV rights are parachute payments, play-off revenue and Wembley gate receipts.
