2026-05-21 11:36:48
The Football Association has opened an investigation into Southampton and ‘spygate’.
The Championship club has admitted to spying on training for three other sides in the league over the past season, and has since been expelled from the play-offs.
Southampton admitted to observing opponents’ training sessions with 72 hours of a game, which has led to Middlesborough being reinstated against Hull City for Saturday’s (23.05.26) final.
The Saints have also been deducted four points for next season’s Championship.
The FA in a statement: “We will now investigate, and won’t comment further until we have assessed the evidence.”
As part of its investigation, the organisation will explore who took part in the spying, as well as the culpability of those who encouraged or knew it was going on.
The English Football League was only able to take action against Southampton itself as a member club, but the FA could impose charges and potential bans on individuals involved.
The EFL commented: “A league arbitration panel has dismissed Southampton Football Club’s appeal against the independent disciplinary commission’s sanction following the admittance of multiple breaches of EFL regulations.”
As well as Middlesborough, who Southampton beat in the play-off semi-final, the club also spied on Oxford United over Christmas, and Ipswich Town last month.
Southampton has described the ruling as an “extremely disappointing outcome” which the club branded as “disproportionate”.
They said: “While we fully acknowledge the seriousness of this matter and the scrutiny that has followed, the club has consistently believed the original sporting sanction was disproportionate, a view that has been widely shared by many in the football community over the last 24 hours.”
Hull City are also unhappy after having their play-off final opponents changed at such short notice.
Owner Acun Ilicali admitted to Sky Sports that he isn’t happy and the club could take legal action if they lose this weekend.
However, he noted that the Tigers simply have to play the game “in order to finish this mess”.
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