Southampton was expelled from the Championship playoffs on Tuesday after admitting to repeatedly spying on opponents.
The English Football League reinstated Middlesbrough to play in the Wembley final 鈥� the richest game in soccer 鈥� against Hull City on Saturday. The winner gets promoted to the Premier League.
Southampton was charged earlier this month for the unauthorized filming of Middlesbrough鈥檚 practice sessions ahead of their semifinal. It went on to win the two-legged tie to go within one game of promotion to the top flight.
The league said the southcoast club had subsequently admitted further breaches this season concerning games against Oxford United and Ipswich. It was also deducted four points for next season.
鈥淪outhampton has a right to appeal the commission鈥檚 decision in accordance with EFL regulations and the parties are working to try and resolve any appeal on Wednesday 20 May. Subject to the outcome, it could result in a further change to Saturday鈥檚 fixture,鈥� the league said.
The league said Southampton admitted breaches requiring clubs to act with the “utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another club鈥檚 training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match.鈥�
It said the final was still due to go ahead as planned, despite disruption caused by Middlesbrough鈥檚 late reinstatement.
The playoff final is labeled the world鈥檚 richest one-off soccer match because a windfall of at least $270 million in future earnings is on offer for the winning team.
Promotion to the top flight of English soccer 鈥� the world鈥檚 wealthiest and most-watched league 鈥� brings with it access to its multibillion dollar global broadcast deals as well as sold out stadiums for games against the biggest teams in the world like Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.
Southampton was relegated from the Premier League after finishing bottom of the standings last season and was aiming to make an immediate return.
The stunning decision to expel it from the final comes after Leeds was previously punished for spying.
In 2019, the $259,000 for spying on one of Derby鈥檚 training sessions ahead of a game.
Marcelo Bielsa, who was manager of Leeds at the time, accepted responsibility for having a club employee spy on Derby鈥檚 practice. In a detailed, hour-long news conference, Bielsa later admitted to having watched at least one of each of his opponents鈥� training sessions.
In handing out that fine, the EFL said Leeds鈥� conduct 鈥渇ell significantly short of the standards expected by the EFL and must not be repeated.鈥�
The Southampton incident has echoes of Canada’s Olympic women’s soccer team which was penalized for over New Zealand鈥檚 closed practice sessions ahead of the teams鈥� match at the Paris Games in 2024.
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