English club Southampton is expected to appeal being expelled from the Championship play-off final.

The Saints were remarkably eliminated from the English Football League Championship final after being found guilty of spying on their opponents.

While preparing for the final on Saturday, May 23, 2026, Southampton received the shocking news of the first-time-ever ruling on falling foul to the Football League’s regulation 127.

Middlesbrough had called for Southampton’s expulsion after having a training session at their Rockliffe ​Park site filmed 48 hours ahead of the first leg of their playoff semi-final with Southampton, which ended 0-0.

As a result of the ruling, Middlesbrough have rather been reinstated for the final in place of the Saints against Hull City for a promotion to the Premier League and a 100,000,000-pound cash prize.

Southampton had admitted to illegally spying on an opponent within 72 hours of a scheduled match and also admitted to similarly filming training sessions involving Oxford United in December and ​Ipswich Town in April during the regular season to a three-member panel.