Southampton launched an appeal after being expelled from the Championship play-offs, having admitted to spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, who’ve been reinstated for the final on Saturday
Southampton have released a statement(Image: Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Southampton chief executive Phil Parson has issued a grovelling apology for Spygate – and laid out their case for an appeal. On Tuesday, the Saints learned that they’d been kicked out of the Championship play-offs after admitting to spying on their semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, who’ve replaced them in the final, and two other teams earlier this season.
But Southampton immediately launched an appeal and believe that the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. As well as missing out on the chance to reach the Premier League in a game worth £200million, the Saints have also received a four-point deduction which will be implemented next season.
Despite there being just four days until Middlesbrough are due to face Hull City in the final at Wembley, Southampton aren’t giving up. The club issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon shortly after their appeal hearing began.
CEO Parsons said: “We have appealed yesterday’s decision by the Independent Disciplinary Commission to expel Southampton Football Club from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs, and to impose a four-point deduction for the 2026/27 season. Before turning to that appeal, I want to address our supporters, our players, and the wider football community directly and without equivocation.
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“What happened was wrong. The club has admitted breaches of EFL Regulations 3.4 and 127. We are sorry to the other clubs involved, and most of all to the Southampton supporters whose extraordinary loyalty and support this season deserved better from the club.
“We have provided our full co-operation to the EFL’s investigation and disciplinary process. Following the appeal, we will also be writing to the EFL to volunteer our participation in a working group on the practical application and enforcement of Regulation 127 across the Championship. Contrition without change is hollow, and we intend to demonstrate change.
“On the appeal itself: we accept that there should be a sanction. What we cannot accept is a sanction which bears no proportion to the offence. Whereas Leeds United was fined £200,000 for a similar offence, Southampton has been denied the opportunity to compete in a game worth more than £200m and one which means so much to our staff, players and supporters.
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“We believe the financial consequence of yesterday’s ruling makes it, by a very considerable distance, the largest penalty ever imposed on an English football club. Luton Town’s 30-point deduction in 2008/09 – to date the most severe sporting sanction in the English game – was levied against a club already in League Two, with no comparable revenue at stake.
“Derby County’s 21-point deduction in 2021 cost them their Championship status. Everton’s eventual six-point deduction in 2023/24 followed losses of £124.5m, a figure dwarfed by what has been taken from Southampton in a single afternoon. The largest financial penalty ever levied by the Premier League, against Chelsea in March of this year, was £10.75m, and was accompanied by no sporting sanction whatsoever despite involving £47.5 million in undisclosed payments over seven years.
“We say this not to minimise what occurred at this club, which we have accepted was wrong. We say it because proportionality is itself a principle of natural justice. The Commission was entitled to impose a sanction.
“It was not, we will argue, entitled to impose one that is manifestly disproportionate to every previous sanction in the history of the English game. Our appeal will be heard today, and we will provide a further update in due course.”
The bad news might not end there for Southampton, as manager Tonda Eckert faces a lengthy ban depending on his involvement in the spying. William Salt, an intern at the club, travelled to watch 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 the Saints snatched a 2-1 win in extra-time in an emotionally charged second leg at St Mary’s.
The EFL gave an update on Wednesday morning confirming that Saturday’s final will kick off at 3:30pm. But should Southampton being reinstated, the game will start at 4:30pm.
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