Southampton’s expulsion from the Championship playoff final will stand.
The English Football League swiftly rejected the team’s appeal of their ban on Thursday. During an investigation into a Saints employee illegally filming a Middlesbrough training session ahead of their two-legged semifinal last week, Saints admitted to multiple breaches of league regulations. The team will also begin next season with a four-point deduction.
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.
— EFL Communications (@EFL_Comms) May 20, 2026
As a result, the original sanction remains in force. Southampton’s expulsion from the Sky Bet… pic.twitter.com/K9yfvMyoc1
On Wednesday, the league booted Saints from Saturday’s final at Wembley Stadium against Hull City with the winners earning promotion to the Premier League. With Southampton out, the EFL reinstated Boro who had fallen to Saints by a score of 1-0 on aggregate.
The EFL also confirmed that Saturday’s final will start at 3:30 p.m. local time.
The rejected appeal has repercussions for Brampton, Ont.’s Cyle Larin. The Canada striker has starred at St. Mary’s on loan from Mallorca. As TSN’s Matt Scianitti reported on Wednesday, Southampton’s promotion would have turned his loan into a buy obligation at $6 million (CAD).
The consequences of Southampton being removed from the Championsip Playoff final immediately affect Cyle Larin's future.
— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) May 19, 2026
Had Southampton won and were promoted, sources tell @TSN_Sports Cyle Larin had a $6 million CAD obligation to buy clause in his loan deal.@TSNSoccer
Larin, who scored eight league goals in 16 appearances, will now wait until the summer for his future to become clearer.
