Southampton have issued a club statement following their expulsion from the Championship play-off final.
The punishment has seen the Saints docked four points at the start of next season’s Championship, with Middlesbrough replacing them in the play-off final against Hull City on May 23.
The message comes from the club’s chief executive, Phil Parsons, which reads: “We have appealed yesterday’s decision by the Independent Disciplinary Commission to expel Southampton Football Club from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs, and to impose a four-point deduction for the 2026/27 season.
“Before turning to that appeal, I want to address our supporters, our players, and the wider football community directly and without equivocation.
“What happened was wrong. The club has admitted breaches of EFL Regulations 3.4 and 127.
“We are sorry to the other clubs involved, and most of all to the Southampton supporters whose extraordinary loyalty and support this season deserved better from the club.
“We have provided our full co-operation to the EFL’s investigation and disciplinary process.
“Following the appeal, we will also be writing to the EFL to volunteer our participation in a working group on the practical application and enforcement of Regulation 127 across the Championship.
Southampton have issued a club statement following their expulsion from the Championship play-off final
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“Contrition without change is hollow, and we intend to demonstrate change.
“On the appeal itself: we accept that there should be a sanction. What we cannot accept is a sanction which bears no proportion to the offence.
“Whereas Leeds United was fined £200,000 for a similar offence, Southampton has been denied the opportunity to compete in a game worth more than £200million and one which means so much to our staff, players and supporters.
“We believe the financial consequence of yesterday’s ruling makes it, by a very considerable distance, the largest penalty ever imposed on an English football club.
The Saints club’s chief executive described their punishment as ‘the largest penalty ever imposed on an English football club’
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“Luton Town’s 30-point deduction in 2008/09 – to date the most severe sporting sanction in the English game – was levied against a club already in League Two, with no comparable revenue at stake. Derby County’s 21-point deduction in 2021 cost them their Championship status.
“Everton’s eventual six-point deduction in 2023/24 followed losses of £124.5m, a figure dwarfed by what has been taken from Southampton in a single afternoon.
“The largest financial penalty ever levied by the Premier League, against Chelsea in March of this year, was £10.75m, and was accompanied by no sporting sanction whatsoever despite involving £47.5m in undisclosed payments over seven years.
“We say this not to minimise what occurred at this club, which we have accepted was wrong.
The Saints accepted their wrongdoing, but believe the punishment is ‘manifestly disproportionate’
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“We say it because proportionality is itself a principle of natural justice. The Commission was entitled to impose a sanction.
“It was not, we will argue, entitled to impose one that is manifestly disproportionate to every previous sanction in the history of the English game.
“Our appeal will be heard today, and we will provide a further update in due course.”
An independent commission imposed the penalty on the Saints after the club admitted three spying charges, including one related to observing a training session of play-off semi-final opponents Middlesbrough.
The Saints said they will provide an update following their hearing
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The EFL confirmed earlier today a new kick-off time of 3:30pm following the Saints’ exclusion, but should they be reinstated, it will remain at 4:30pm.
Southampton previously acknowledged breaking regulations that mandate clubs operate in good faith and prohibit surveillance of opponents’ training within 72 hours of a fixture.
Boro manager Kim Hellberg accused the Saints of cheating following his side’s goalless draw at the Riverside Stadium, with Middlesbrough losing the second leg 2-1.
Hellberg condemned what he called “disgraceful spying”, whilst Saints boss Tonda Eckert walked out of his post-match press conference when asked: “Are you a cheat?”
Photographs then emerged, appearing to show a Southampton analyst in the vicinity of Middlesbrough’s training facility, filming one of their sessions.
The EFL warned on May 14 that “the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture”.
That warning materialised, with Middlesbrough granted a second chance at promotion just before the Wembley showpiece.
