Southampton will be playing in the Championship next season after they were expelled from the play-offs following their admission that they spied on three league rivals this season.

Southampton will start the new Championship season with a minus four points penalty after the English Football League (EFL) charged them with watching training sessions of Oxford United and Ipswich Town, as well as filming Middlesbrough as they prepared for the first leg of their play-off semi-final on May 7. Despite winning the play-off semi-final against Middlesbrough, Southampton's expulsion means that Middlesbrough will now play Hull City for a place in the Premier League at Wembley on Saturday.

The Decision and Its Implications

Southampton's expulsion from the play-off final means they will miss out on the opportunity to compete in the Premier League and the substantial financial rewards that come with it, with the winners guaranteed a minimum £110m in Premier League broadcast revenue. The EFL arbitration panel rejected Southampton's appeal on Wednesday, leading to the club's expulsion from the play-offs. The incident was brought to light after Middlesbrough reported Southampton for spying on a training session on May 7 as they prepared to meet each other in the first leg of the play-off semi-finals two days later. Saints were then charged by the EFL on May 8 with breaking two regulations: EFL Regulation 3.4, which requires clubs to act towards each other with the utmost good faith; and EFL Regulation 127, which prohibits any club from observing or attempting to observe another club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match between the two clubs.

Reactions and Opinions

Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson praised the EFL for applying a punishment that he feels protects the integrity of the game. He stated on BBC Radio 5 live, "I kind of quite like it. It is like when you're a naughty kid. If you admit three or four things, you have clearly done seven or eight, and you have been caught for them all. The integrity of the game is of the utmost importance."

Ex-Arsenal defender Matt Upson echoed this sentiment, feeling that the EFL had to send a strong message with the punishment. "If you're going to set the standard for behaviour, if it is there and they have got legislation, and they want to apply it, that is what it's there for. It just reads that they are bang to rights with this."

Ex-Southampton midfielder Jo Tessem expressed disappointment and disbelief at the club's actions. "I am speechless. I am disappointed that the club had to go to these lengths to get the information they did. For Southampton Football Club this is a really sad day."