They have been punished following the 2025-26 season, but this will result in Middlesbrough being reinstated into Saturday’s play-off final at Wembley, playing Hull City instead.
Saints are said to have broken rules by spying on Oxford United, Ipswich Town, and Middlesbrough training sessions. This included filming Boro’s training ahead of their play-off semi-final fixture against Saints earlier this month. The independent disciplinary commission felt that Saints had breached regulations stating that a club must conduct itself with the “utmost good faith” as well as regulations regarding not viewing another club’s training session within 72 hours prior to a scheduled fixture.
This punishment will come as a huge blow to the club, having just lost out on a chance to compete for promotion to the Premier League in the world’s richest match (the Championship play-off final which is worth an estimated 110 million in Premier League revenue), while being forced to deduct four points from next season’s Championship league table, however it is expected that Saints will immediately appeal the punishment, stating that it is too harsh.
The whole thing started after an intern for the Saints, William Salt, was spotted filming the Middlesbrough training session from a raised piece of ground nearby on May 7 before their play-off semi-final, and Middlesbrough staff approached the intruder, who refused to name himself before deleting any relevant data from his phone and fleeing the scene.
Photos were soon linked to the Southampton club, prompting Boro to make a complaint to the EFL, and after subsequent investigations were made, further incidents were found to have occurred earlier in the season, involving both Oxford United and Ipswich Town.
The current manager of Middlesbrough, Aitor Karanka, seemed positive about the verdict: “This decision is very important for the sport and sends out a message.” Southampton had already flogged the tickets for the Wembley final, and ticket-holders are likely to receive a refund.
This case will be resolved quickly as further action is possible after the Football Association decides to consider action against individuals involved with the operation, or not.
