FA launch investigation into Southampton after club admitted to spying on rivals

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/southampton/WdKOwxDM/"]Southampton[/a] were expelled from the ‌Championship playoffs after acknowledging they observed opponents' ‌training sessions within 72 hours of ‌matches, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/middlesbrough/6F0lvLNC/"]Middlesbrough[/a] reinstated on Tuesday to face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hull-city/S66R0t75/"]Hull City[/a] in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/hull-S66R0t75/middlesbrough-6F0lvLNC/?mid=OIpPdTJa"]Saturday's final[/a].[/p][p]The ‌winner of the lucrative playoff ⁠final, often ‌described as the richest match in soccer, ​is promoted to the Premier League next season.[/p][p][b]"We will now ​investigate, and won't comment further until we have assessed the evidence,"[/b] the FA ⁠said in ​a statement.[/p][p]The club have also been handed a four-point deduction for next season, while their appeal, which argued the ‌punishment was "disproportionate", was rejected on Wednesday.[/p][embed guid="e9d475a3-cc14-4e52-b259-f89f73189e3b" url="https://x.com/DeadlineDayLive/status/2057369209223405618" social-type="twitter" /][p]The English Football League (EFL) confirmed on Wednesday that the club's sanction, along with a four-point deduction for the 2026–27 season and a formal reprimand, will stand, forcing the south-coast side to quickly turn its focus to ‌rebuilding both on and off the ​pitch.[/p][p]The club had admitted to spying ‌on opponents in a case dubbed 'Spygate', including filming a Middlesbrough training session before their semi-final, as well as similar incidents involving [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/oxford-utd/vgOBT43c/"]Oxford United[/a] ⁠and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ipswich/thqhB2MB/"]Ipswich ⁠Town[/a] earlier in ‌the campaign.[/p]