00:02Southampton's appeal against their expulsion from the Championship playoff final has been
00:09dismissed, confirming that Hull City will face Middlesbrough at Wembley with a place
00:16in the Premier League on the line for both sides.
00:21The decision follows an EFL investigation into the so-called Spygate scandal which resulted
00:28in Southampton being removed from the playoffs despite progressing on the pitch.
00:35The controversy centred on a member of Southampton's back-from-staff being caught watching a Middlesbrough
00:43training session hiding behind a tree ahead of their semi-final meeting.
00:48The EFL said that Southampton had admitted to multiple breaches of competition regulations
00:56including the unauthorised filming of opposition training sessions before matches against
01:02Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough as well.
01:08As punishment, Southampton were not only expelled from the final of the playoffs but also handed
01:15a four-point deduction to begin next season.
01:19The club responded by describing the ruling as a disproportionate result and their appeal
01:25has now been dismissed.
01:29That outcome means that it will be Middlesbrough that are reinstated and will now meet Hull City
01:35in the Championship playoff final with the winner securing promotion to the Premier League.
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