The Spygate scandal has rocked English football recently. Southampton were found guilty in spying on their play-off semi-final opponents, Middlesbrough. They appealed and it was unsuccessful.
As a result, Hull City will take on Middlesbrough in Saturday's play-off final, with the Wembley showpiece kicking off at 16:30 (South African time).
On Tuesday evening, Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-offs, with Middlesbrough reinstated, after a member of the Saints' backroom staff was caught watching Boro's training ahead of the first leg of their play-off semi-final.
According to the EFL, Southampton admitted "multiple breaches" relating to the unauthorised filming of their opponents' training ahead of games against Oxford and Ipswich, as well as the clash with Middlesbrough.
In addition to their expulsion from Saturday's final, Southampton were handed a four-point deduction for next season. Reacting to their expulsion, Southampton called the ruling "manifestly disproportionate" to the offence.
The Saints appealed the ruling but it was dismissed on Wednesday night with no further opportunity of appeal.
An EFL statement read: "A League Arbitration Panel has today dismissed Southampton Football Club's appeal against the Independent Disciplinary Commission's decision in respect of breaches of EFL Regulations.
"As a result, the original sanction remains in force. Southampton's expulsion from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs stands, alongside the four-point deduction to be applied to the Club's 2026/27 Championship record and the reprimand in respect of all charges."
"In accordance with EFL Regulations, the decision of the League Arbitration Panel is final. Following the conclusion of the proceedings, the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final between Hull City and Middlesbrough is confirmed as taking place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 23 May, kicking off at 3.30pm."
Shortly after the announcement, Southampton released a statement saying it was an 'extremely disappointing outcome', while also acknowledging it was a painful moment for the club and they would be determined to 'put things right'.
It read: "Southampton Football Club has this evening been informed that the EFL's League Arbitration Panel has upheld the sanctions imposed earlier this week. As a result, the club will not participate in Saturday's Championship Play-Off Final."
"This is an extremely disappointing outcome for everybody connected with Southampton Football Club. We know how painful this moment will be for our supporters, players, staff, commercial partners and the wider community who have given so much backing to the team throughout the season and we apologise once again to everyone impacted by this."
"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."
"We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to our supporters for the support, patience and loyalty they have shown throughout an incredibly difficult period. We will share information as soon as possible in relation to ticket refunds for those who bought tickets to Wembley."
"Southampton Football Club has a proud history and strong foundations, but it is clear that trust now needs to be rebuilt. That work begins immediately. The club will reflect carefully on the events that have led to this point, learn from them and take the necessary steps to move forward responsibly."
"While tonight is a painful moment, this football club will respond with humility, accountability and determination to put things right."
Saints midfielder, Leo Scienza, said his side's expulsion was "heartbreaking" and expressed sympathy for everyone involved, including Hull and Middlesbrough.
He posted on Instagram: "Disappointment, anger, sadness. It's difficult to find the right words for what we're all feeling right now."
"It's difficult to find the right words for what we're all feeling right now.
"What has happened over the last few days is heartbreaking.. for the club, for every player in this dressing room, and above all for our supporters. A moment like this should never end the way it did."
"I feel sorry for every football fan, as well as the players and supporters of Hull and Boro, who were caught up in all of this chaos, too."
"We gave everything for this dream. Day after day, sacrifice after sacrifice, always believing we could bring this club back to where it belongs. For me, the dream of playing in the Premier League was something I fought for with everything I had. That's why this pain cuts so deep."
"The hardest part is knowing how much our fans deserved this moment. You stood behind us all season with incredible passion, loyalty and belief. Even in the toughest moments, you carried us forward."
"Thank you for staying with us through everything. You definitely deserved better."
Southampton manager, Tonda Eckert, faces the sack and an FA ban in the wake of 'Spygate'.
The full report into the scandal is expected to confirm Eckert admitted responsibility for secretly watching opposition teams in training, something that is common practise in his native Germany.
Sources close to Saints owner, Dragan Solak, say the Serbian will be 'furious' with Eckert for bringing the club's name into disrepute and costing them a shot at the £200m Wembley showdown for a place in the Premier League.
As well as potentially losing his job, Eckert and sporting director, Johannes Spors, who also learned his trade in Germany, are likely to come under investigation from the FA and risk potential suspensions.
There is also a fear among the Southampton hierarchy that sponsors will pull out of deals for not wanting to be associated with a club who have admitted to cheating.
Players including captain, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, are also said to be raging at having their shot at a place in the Premier League and the lucrative salaries and status that come with it snatched away.
The Football Association is investigating Southampton's conduct after the club admitted to spying on three other Championship sides during the season.
Southampton admitted spying on Middlesbrough before the first leg of the play-off semi-final, along with Oxford United at Christmas and Ipswich Town last month.
When Southampton hosted Ipswich on 28 April, the two teams were in direct competition vying to finish second and earn automatic promotion. The game ended 2-2.
The fixture is dubbed as the most lucrative game in world football, with promotion worth a minimum of £200m in broadcast revenue and parachute payments.
"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," the EFL said on Wednesday evening.
Hull boss, Sergej Jakirovic, told a news conference before the final that his club had become "collateral damage" in the drama.
"We can say everything is unfair in this last two weeks. You don't know what's going on," he told BBC Radio Humberside.
The Tigers' owner, Acun Ilicali, told Sky Sports on Wednesday that he was unhappy that his club must face different opponents at short notice and didn't rule out legal action should they lose the final.
Ilicali conceded that there was no other option but to play the fixture against Boro "in order to finish this mess."
Middlesbrough head coach, Kim Hellberg, also spoke to the media on Thursday and revealed he had barely slept in a week and a half.
He also spoke of his sympathy for fans and players of all three clubs affected - and said his trust in "doing the right thing" has been restored by Southampton's punishment.
I welcome this outcome. Cheating in any form isn't okay. Just because it's fine doing it in one country doesn't mean it's okay worldwide. They should've known better.
The chickens have come home to roost on Southampton.