UPDATE 1-Soccer-Southampton lose appeal, Middlesbrough to face Hull in playoff final

remains in place, as does the four-point deduction to be applied to the 2026/27 Championship table and the reprimand in respect ‌of all charges," the English Football League (EFL) said in a statement. The final will be at London's Wembley Stadium on ‌Saturday, kicking off at 3:30pm local time.

Hull City will play ​Middlesbrough for a place in the Premier ‌League ​after Southampton failed on Wednesday in their appeal against expulsion from the Championship playoff final for spying on opponents.

Southampton were thrown out of the final on Tuesday, ‌and handed a four-point deduction for next season, after they had beaten semi-final opponents Middlesbrough. "The original sanction of expulsion... remains in place, as does the four-point deduction to be applied to the 2026/27 Championship table and the reprimand in respect ‌of all charges," the English Football League (EFL) said in a statement.

The final will be at London's Wembley Stadium on ‌Saturday, kicking off at 3:30pm local time. Southampton had admitted the charge of illegally spying on an opponent within 72 hours of a scheduled match. The alleged spy was caught recording a Middlesbrough training session from behind a tree ahead of the first leg.

The south-coast club beat ⁠Middlesbrough 2-1 ​on aggregate to reach the ⁠final, considered the richest game in world soccer with 200 million pounds ($268.68 million) guaranteed over three seasons through broadcast revenue, sponsorship and parachute payments. Although ⁠Southampton CEO Phil Parsons said the club accepted that there should be sanctions, he added that they could not accept "a sanction ​which bears no proportion to the offence".

Southampton also admitted similarly filming training sessions involving Oxford United in December ⁠and Ipswich Town in April during the regular season. Middlesbrough had demanded Southampton be kicked out of the final to "protect the integrity of the game" ⁠while ​threatening to take legal action if required.

"This is an extremely disappointing outcome for everybody connected with Southampton Football Club," the Saints said in a statement after the verdict. "We know how painful this moment will be for our ⁠supporters, players, staff, commercial partners and the wider community who have given so much backing to the team throughout ⁠the season and we apologise ⁠once again to everyone impacted by this.

"Southampton Football Club has a proud history and strong foundations, but it is clear that trust now needs to be rebuilt. That work ‌begins immediately," it ‌added. ($1 = 0.7444 pounds)