Because of spy crimes<\/span> He was fired on Wednesday.<\/p>\nAn arbitration panel has upheld the English Football League’s decision to exclude Southampton from Saturday’s final, meaning Middlesbrough will instead play Hull at Wembley Stadium for a chance to gain promotion to the Premier League.<\/p>\n
Decisions are final.<\/p>\n
Southampton was sent off on Tuesday after repeatedly admitting spying on opponents.<\/p>\n
He was charged earlier this month with filming Middlesbrough’s practice session ahead of the semi-final without permission. They won with the score tied at two, and were one game away from promotion to the top league.<\/p>\n
The south coast club then admitted further offenses relating to games against Oxford United and Ipswich this season. The winning points for next season were also reduced by 4 points.<\/p>\n
In its appeal, the group said the punishment was “manifestly disproportionate” to previous sanctions in English football history.<\/p>\n
In a lengthy club statement, Southampton chief executive Phil Parsons said “what happened was wrong” and acknowledged the club deserved a sanction.<\/p>\n
“What we cannot accept is a sanction that is disproportionate to the violation,” he said.<\/p>\n
The playoff final has been called the richest one-off soccer match in the world, as the winning team is expected to earn at least $270 million in future earnings.<\/p>\n
Promotion to English soccer’s top flight, the world’s richest and most-watched league, will bring multi-billion dollar global broadcast deals and packed stadiums for games against the world’s biggest teams, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.<\/p>\n
Southampton were relegated from the Premier League after finishing bottom of the table last season and were aiming for an immediate return.<\/p>\n
The league announced that the final will be held on Saturday, with kickoff at 3:30pm local time.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
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