The Football Association has launched an investigation into Southampton after the club admitted to spying on three fellow Championship teams during the previous season.
Southampton were removed from the Championship play-offs after acknowledging that they had monitored opponents’ training sessions within 72 hours of matches. As a result, Middlesbrough were reinstated and will now face Hull City in Saturday’s final.
The club has also been handed a four-point deduction for next season’s Championship campaign.
An appeal by Southampton, who argued that the sanctions were “disproportionate”, was rejected on Wednesday evening.
A spokesperson for the FA said the governing body would not make any further comment until it had fully reviewed the available evidence.
The investigation will focus on identifying those involved in the spying operation, including anyone who authorised, encouraged, or was aware of the activity.
While the English Football League was able to sanction the club itself, the FA’s involvement means individuals linked to the incident could now face formal charges and possible suspensions from football.
The case has drawn comparisons with the controversy at the 2024 Summer Olympics, where Canada women’s national soccer team staff were found guilty of spying on New Zealand women’s national football team. FIFA subsequently banned three staff members — including head coach Bev Priestman — from football for one year.
Southampton admitted spying on Middlesbrough before the first leg of the play-off semi-final, along with Oxford United at Christmas and Ipswich Town last month.
When Saints hosted Ipswich on 28 April the two teams were in direct competition vying to finish second and earn automatic promotion. The game ended 2-2.
Southampton have no further right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The Championship play-off final will now go ahead at Wembley on Saturday between Hull City and Middlesbrough (15:30 BST kick-off), with a place in the Premier League on the line.
The fixture is dubbed as the most lucrative game in world football, with promotion worth a minimum of £200m in broadcast revenue and parachute payments.
Hull, meanwhile, are unhappy they will have to face different opponents at short notice, with owner Acun Ilicali suggesting the club could take legal action if they lose the final.
