Southampton Ousted from Championship Playoffs in "Spy Scandal," Middlesbrough to Face Final
- May 19, 2026 | 21:11
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The Southampton team has been expelled from the Championship playoffs following what is being referred to as a "spy scandal." As a result, Middlesbrough will face Hull City in the final playoff match on Saturday, May 23. Southampton will start the next season in the Championship with a four-point penalty and has the right to appeal the decision. Prior to their expulsion, Southampton had won the tie between the two teams from the semi-finals of the Championship playoffs, after the teams drew in the first match and Southampton won 1-0 in the rematch.
Middlesbrough Demanded Southampton Be Ousted from Playoffs
On May 7, Middlesbrough officially filed a complaint with the English Football League, claiming that a Southampton employee had spied on their training session three days before the first semi-final playoff match.
Images: Getty Images
This is a massive injustice! How could Southampton be punished for something like this? It's clear they're trying to sabotage Middlesbrough's chance at promotion. What do you think, is this fair or just another scandal in English football?