Officially: Southampton Excluded from Premier League Promotion Playoffs
The English Football League announced the expulsion of Southampton from the Championship playoffs after the club admitted to committing several violations related to unauthorized filming of other clubs' training sessions before matches.
It was also decided to deduct 4 points from the team's tally for the upcoming 2026/27 season, along with issuing an official reprimand to the club.
According to the statement, an independent committee confirmed that Southampton violated regulations prohibiting the monitoring of opponents' training sessions within 72 hours before matches. The violations were related to matches against Oxford United in December 2025, Ipswich Town in April 2026, and Middlesbrough in May 2026.
The league confirmed that Middlesbrough will officially return to the playoffs in place of Southampton and will face Hull City in the final on May 23, with the match timing to be announced later.
The statement indicated that investigations began on May 8, before additional violations emerged during the case proceedings, leading to stricter penalties on the English club.
It was also decided to deduct 4 points from the team's tally for the upcoming 2026/27 season, along with issuing an official reprimand to the club.
According to the statement, an independent committee confirmed that Southampton violated regulations prohibiting the monitoring of opponents' training sessions within 72 hours before matches. The violations were related to matches against Oxford United in December 2025, Ipswich Town in April 2026, and Middlesbrough in May 2026.
The league confirmed that Middlesbrough will officially return to the playoffs in place of Southampton and will face Hull City in the final on May 23, with the match timing to be announced later.
The statement indicated that investigations began on May 8, before additional violations emerged during the case proceedings, leading to stricter penalties on the English club.
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