Major update issued on Southampton’s Spygate case

This does not bode well for the Saints...

Ahead of the first leg of Middlesbrough and the Saints' play-off first leg, a report in The Mail revealed that an individual thought to be a Southampton staff member had been spotted recording training at Boro's Rockliffe Park.

Although Southampton ultimately triumphed over the two legs, they were later thrown out of the tournament by the EFL, as part of a series of punishments handed to the club after Saints admitted to 'spying' on opponents on three occasions.

Southampton later launched an appeal against the sanctions, that was heard by an independent disciplinary commission on Wednesday, but the initial punishment was upheld.

The EFL announced the results of that appeal in a statement that read: "The determination means that the original sanction of expulsion from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs remains in place, as does the four-point deduction to be applied to the 2026/27 Championship table and the reprimand in respect of all charges."

In the hours since Southampton's fate was sealed, the club have been handed further bad news on two new fronts, as revealed by The Times.

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Per the report, following the EFL's investigation into the allegations, the FA are now set to launch an enquiry of their own into Saints' head coach Tonda Eckert, that could lead to charges from the body, potentially leading to a possible ban.

To make matters worse, Southampton's first-team squad are also considering launching a legal battle against their own club, and are "taking legal advice on whether to pursue a case for damages in a class action," per The Times.

The players have lost out on bonuses and pay increases that would have come with promotion to the Premier League, a status they would have been just a game away from, had the spying scandal not enveloped their play-off campaign.

It now remains to be seen how the FA's investigation progresses over the coming days, to see if those involved face any further sanctions.

EFL's initial statement confirming Southampton's punishment:

The EFL have expelled Southampton from the play-off finals.

A statement read:

• Southampton expelled from Sky Bet Championship play-offs.
• Club also receive four point deduction in 2026/27
• Middlesbrough reinstated into Championship play-offs and will face Hull City in final on Saturday 23 May.

"An independent Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the Sky Bet Championship play-offs after the Club admitted to multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other Clubs' training.

"In addition, the Club has received a four-point deduction that will be applied to the 2026/27 Championship table, alongside a reprimand in respect of all the charges."

What happened during the 2019 "Spygate" scandal?

Back in 2019, a Leeds side led by Marcelo Bielsa were accused of spying on Derby County training ahead of a Championship match between the two.

The Argentine head coach eventually admitted to the tactic, and the club were later fined were fined £200,000.