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Southampton have been removed from the Championship playoffs, the English Football League confirmed on Tuesday, forfeiting their opportunity to compete for nearly $300 million in what is considered the world's most lucrative single soccer match.
The removal comes after the EFL Championship club admitted to multiple violations of league regulations, specifically those "requiring Clubs to act with the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another Club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match."
Middlesbrough will be restored to the playoffs after originally falling to Southampton in the semifinal round. They will now take on Hull City in the playoff final on Saturday, with promotion hanging in the balance. A win in that match would be worth a substantial fortune.
The controversy, dubbed "Spygate", became public on May 8 after Southampton were charged with spying on upcoming playoff rivals Middlesbrough. An individual, believed to be a Southampton performance analyst, was captured on CCTV at Middlesbrough's training facility and accused of filming training sessions. When approached, the man denied any wrongdoing, appeared to erase data from his phone, ducked into a nearby restroom to change his outfit, and swiftly left the premises.
In the days that followed, several other Championship clubs joined Middlesbrough in raising concerns about how well-prepared Southampton appeared to be for their tactical strategies, resulting in a separate charge on May 17. Those concerns were further fueled by Southampton's remarkable improvement in form, as the club climbed from 15th in the standings all the way to fifth to secure a playoff berth.
Southampton have now acknowledged further violations relating to a December fixture against Oxford United and an April clash against Ipswich Town.
Southampton Lose Out on Millions, Prospect of Promotion
Southampton retain the right to appeal the Commission's ruling, with all parties aiming to resolve any such appeal by Wednesday, well before Saturday's scheduled match.
If the decision holds, however, Southampton will be stripped of their spot in the Championship promotion playoff final — soccer's most financially rewarding match, held at the iconic Wembley Stadium. The final determines who claims the third and last promotion spot to the Premier League, a prize estimated to be worth approximately $295 million in 2026 for the winning club. That considerable figure reflects the upcoming domestic broadcast deal in England's top division, along with commercial revenues and merit-based payments.
Saturday's winner will join already-promoted Coventry City and Ipswich Town in the Premier League next season.