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Middlesbrough could now be booted out of play-offs again after Southampton legal move 

Jack Dawson
Jack Dawson
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Middlesbrough have been placed into the Championship playoff final after Southampton were booted out on Tuesday.

The Saints admitted to watching training sessions of Oxford United and Ipswich Town, in addition to filming Middlesbrough as they prepared for the first leg of their play-off semi-final on 7 May.

As a result, the EFL have now punished the South Coast club by kicking them out of the final and handing them a four-point deduction for the start of the 2026-27 campaign.

However, Southampton have already lodged an appeal to the decision as they look to return to the playoff final.

Now, Kaveh Solhekol has admitted the Saints could now be reinstated to the Championship playoff final in another twist to the spygate saga.

Kaveh Solhekol: Southampton could still be in the Championship playoff final

With the playoff final set to take place on Saturday, the Saints are running out of time to be reinstated to the tie.

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However, there is still a good chance that this can happen, according to Solhekol on Sky Sports News on 19 May.

When talking about the issue, he explained that Southampton’s appeal could be accepted due to the fact that it will be heard by three different people, which could see them return to the playoff final.

He said: “I think there is still hope. The reason I say there is still hope is that if you look at the EFL’s regulations, it says that an appeal has to be heard by a new three-person panel.

“So the appeal will be heard by three different people than the people who heard the case today and came to the decision that they did.

“So if you are Southampton, you are hoping that this new three-person appeal panel, which will be made up of lawyers, senior barristers and King’s counsel, very very experienced lawyers, it will be three new people.

“And these three new people tomorrow may look at all of the evidence and say ‘yes, Southampton have admitted wrongdoing, they have admitted to multiple breaches, but we feel that the punishment does not fit the crime’.”

What have Middlesbrough said about the EFL’s decision?

Boro are obviously delighted about being placed in the Championship playoff final ahead of Saturday’s tie.

Middlesbrough had originally been knocked out by the Saints after a 2-1 aggregate defeat thanks to a late stoppage-time goal.

Now, the club has a chance to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017, when they were unable to prevent an instant return to the Championship.

After the announcement that they had been placed into the playoff final, the club were quick to go to X on 19 May to thank the EFL for the decision.

They stated: “Middlesbrough Football Club welcomes the outcome of today’s Disciplinary Commission hearing.

“We believe this sends out a clear message for the future of our game regarding sporting integrity and conduct.

“As a club, we are now focused on our game against Hull City at Wembley on Saturday.

“Ticket information for our supporters will be available shortly.”

However, it remains to be seen if Middlesbrough will be in the Championship playoff final on Saturday or if Southampton will see their appeal succeed.

Yet, no matter what happens, Hull City will certainly feel hard done by as the uncertainty continues of who they will face at Wembley.

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