Southampton have launched an appeal after being expelled from the Championship play-offs after admitting spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, who returned for Saturday’s final.
Southampton chief executive Phil Parson issued a flustered apology to Spygate and explained the reasons for the appeal. On Tuesday, Saints learned they had been expelled from the Championship play-offs after admitting to spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough (who they substituted in the final) and two other teams earlier this season.
But Southampton immediately launched an appeal, believing the punishment did not fit the crime. Not only did Saints miss out on the chance to advance to the Premier League with a game worth £200 million, they also received a four-point penalty which will apply from next season.
Southampton are not giving up, despite there being just four days until Middlesbrough face Hull City in the final at Wembley. The club released a statement on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after the appeal hearing began.
CEO Parsons said: “We have appealed yesterday’s decision by the Independent Disciplinary Committee to expel Southampton Football Club from the Sky Bet Championship play-offs and impose a four-point deduction for the 2026/27 season. Before we proceed with that appeal, we would like to appeal directly and unambiguously to our supporters, players and the wider football community.”
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read more: Spygate Live: Explosive hearing details and Southampton releases statement after appealread more: EFL releases new Spygate statement as play-off final kick-off time changes
Southampton issue statement (Image: Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
“What happened was wrong and the club has admitted a breach of EFL regulations 3.4 and 127. We are sorry to the other clubs involved and above all to the Southampton supporters, whose exceptional loyalty and support this season has meant they have deserved more from the club.”
“We have co-operated fully with the EFL’s investigation and disciplinary process. Following the appeal, we will write to the EFL asking them to volunteer to join a working group on the practice and enforcement of Regulation 127 across the Championship. Repentance without change is empty and we intend to demonstrate change.”
“Regarding the appeal itself: We accept that a sanction is necessary. What we cannot accept is a sanction that is disproportionate to the offence. Leeds United were fined £200,000 for a similar offence, while Southampton were denied the opportunity to play a game worth over £200m and which meant so much to our staff, players and supporters.”
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Southampton’s appeal hearing began on Wednesday afternoon (Image: Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
“Given the financial impact of yesterday’s ruling, this is considered to be a fairly significant penalty for an English football club. Luton Town’s 30-point deduction in the 2008/09 season was the toughest sporting sanction in English football to date, but it was imposed on a club already in League Two and without comparable revenue at stake.
“Derby County suffered a 21-point deduction in 2021 and lost their Championship status. Everton’s final six-point deduction for the 2023/24 season followed a loss of £124.5 million, but this figure dwarfs the figure taken by Southampton in just one afternoon.The biggest penalty ever imposed by the Premier League was £10.75 million against Chelsea in March this year, and was accompanied by a sporting ban. Despite involving £47.5m in undisclosed payments over seven years, no sanctions were imposed.
“We said this not to downplay what happened at this club, but because we recognize that it was wrong. We said that because proportionality itself is a principle of natural justice. The committee had the right to impose a sanction.
“We would argue that we had no right to impose a sanction that was clearly disproportionate to any previous sanction in the history of the English game. Our appeal will be heard today and we will provide further updates in due course.”
Tonda Eckert could face long-term suspension (Image: Robin Jones/Getty Images)
The bad news may not end there for Southampton, with manager Tonda Eckert facing a potential long-term suspension depending on her involvement in the spying scandal. William Salt, an intern at the club, traveled to observe one of Middlesbrough’s training sessions before the first leg.
Salt was spotted filming the session on his iPhone from behind a tree. Boro and Southampton drew 1-1 at the Riverside before Saints won 2-1 after extra time in an emotional second leg at St Mary’s.
The EFL issued an update on Wednesday morning, confirming that Saturday’s final will kick off at 3.30pm. However, if Southampton were to return, the match would start at 4:30 p.m.
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