Southampton's appeal against their expulsion from the Championship play-off final as a result of the 'spygate' scandal has been dismissed.
As a result, Hull City will take on Middlesbrough in Saturday's play-off final, with the Wembley showpiece kicking off at 3.30pm.
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."
Southampton forward Leo Scienza says fans deserve better, expressing his disappointment in the appeal verdict in a statement posted on Instagram.
"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."
According to EFL rules that all clubs agree to, Southampton can no longer take the issue further and appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)...
RULE 104: CHALLENGING THE AWARD
104.1 Subject to the provisions of Sections 67 and 68 of the Arbitration Act, the award, shall be final and binding and there shall be no right of appeal or further arbitration and the parties exclude irrevocably any right to any other form of appeal, review or recourse in or by a court, judicial authority or other arbitral body, in so far as such waiver may validly be made.
Your Site News' chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol:
"Southampton's lawyers did their best to argue their case in front of this new league arbitration panel, which was effectively an appeal panel. They would have said that the punishment is far too severe.
"They would have cited incidents in the past where a team has been deducted six points for spying, or Leeds United were fined £200,000, but now we know that the appeal panel decided to stick with the initial decision that the disciplinary commission came up with yesterday, which is that the punishment is proportionate.
"Now I know a lot of people in football, ex-players, managers, supporters are looking at this and saying, 'Wow, this is a big, big punishment for something that can be viewed as being not that big in the grand scheme of things.'
"However, two panels now, the disciplinary commission and the appeal panel, have disagreed with what people have been saying and said, 'No, this is very, very serious. Southampton have to be expelled from the play-offs'.
"We will get more clarity when the full written reasons are released, not just of the commission yesterday, but also of the appeal.
"Everybody will be able to go through it. It will be available on the EFL website as well. You can read through it, see all the evidence, and make up your mind.
"But finally, three days before the play-off final, we now have absolute clarity that it will be Hull City vs Middlesbrough, and not Southampton, at Wembley on Saturday. And Southampton, unfortunately, because of this spying scandal, which they have admitted to potentially going to cost them a place in the Premier League, and £200m, and there could be further consequences down the road.
"The EFL don't have the power to charge or punish individuals, but the Football Association does, and they can use that power once the EFL process has ended."
Your Site News reporter Mark McAdam:
"The nightmare continues for Southampton fans. They won't be at Wembley on Saturday and that their season is now over. You do feel for Southampton. You speak to other players and managers, other people connected to the game, and they say this is very, very strict. This is very unfair. And it doesn't quite feel like the punishment fits the crime. And exactly what Southampton's defence was in that appeal.
"Southampton's season is now over and attention immediately turns to next season. Southampton are going to be in the Championship, starting on -4 points. So already the hard work needs to begin. They'll be planning preseason tours. They'll be doing all the things that need to be done to prepare themselves for a brand new campaign. So ultimately, the work will continue in the training ground.
"What will happen for the players now, who are probably just desperate to get away, spend some time with their families, relax, recharge, rest, and just try and compute exactly what's happened? Because ultimately, the riches that come with getting promoted to the Premier League have disappeared.
"That dream of playing at the top flight has now gone. So they will be hurting, and they will be frustrated, and they will be angry with what's happened. And they will then have to start their process to look forward and move on right now from this moment onwards."
May 7: Middlesbrough make formal complaint to the EFL alleging a Southampton member of staff spied on their training session three days before their Championship play-off semi-final first leg.
May 9: Boro boss Kim Hellberg accuses Southampton of cheating after the first leg ends in a 0-0 draw at the Riverside Stadium.
May 12: Southampton charged with a breach of EFL regulations in relation to the spying accusations. Southampton request additional time to conduct an internal review.
The play-off semi-final second leg is played at St Mary's. Shea Charles' extra-time winner earns Southampton a 2-1 victory and a place in the Championship play-off final.
Emotional Hellberg hits out at "disgraceful spying", before Saints boss Tonda Eckert storms out of his press conference after being asked: "Are you a cheat?"
May 13: Photos allegedly showing the Southampton analyst near Middlesbrough's training ground released publicly.
May 14: It is announced the independent hearing to determine Southampton's fate will take place on or before Tuesday May 19. In a statement, the EFL say "the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture."
May 15: Middlesbrough publicly call for Southampton's expulsion from the play-offs. In a statement, they said: "In these circumstances, the only appropriate response is a sporting sanction which would prevent Southampton FC from participating in the EFL Championship play-off final."
May 18: Middlesbrough players return to training as the outcome of the independent disciplinary hearing nears.
May 19: EFL announces Southampton expelled from play-off final after hearing.
May 20: Southampton appeal hearing verdict but it's dismissed.
May 21: FA launch investigation into Southampton
