Southampton's appeal against their Championship playoff expulsion has been rejected by the EFL's League Arbitration Panel. The decision means Middlesbrough will advance to face Hull City at Wembley for a Premier League spot. The Saints were booted from the playoff final after admitting to spying on three teams during the season.

The club received a four-point deduction for next season after a first-team analyst intern was caught filming Middlesbrough's training session before their playoff semifinal. Southampton admitted to similar incidents involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town earlier in the season. The club called the sanction "manifestly disproportionate" to previous penalties.

Southampton claimed the punishment could cost them £200 million in lost promotion revenue, making it "the largest penalty ever imposed on an English football club." Players have contacted the PFA for guidance, while the club promises to "rebuild trust" after what CEO Phil Parsons called a "painful moment" for supporters.