Countyram

@EFL_Comms Hull will see you in court if they lose the final

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. #EFL

🚨Hull City are now speaking with lawyers to see if they have a case for being promoted straight up to the Premier League following Southampton’s exclusion…😳

@stace_dcfc Surely Hull have a good case for being promoted without having to play the final

Anyone else got a feeling that even after the final whistle on Saturday we still might not know who will be playing in the prem next season. There is a summer of legal proceedings ahead

Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has suggested the Tigers should be promoted directly to the Premier League. “Our lawyers’ opinion is that we should go directly to Premier League. “We had been preparing for Southampton for 10 days. All the planning, analysis, and work was focused on them.” (Quotes via: @Sport_Witness)

🚨Hull's promotion straight to the Premier League is not absurd. Are Middlesbrough already out of the Play Off Competition? I guess the theory goes like this. The Southampton v Middlesbrough game has not been awarded to Boro rather that after the event, Southampton have been expelled. So Hull say that all other teams in this distinct Play Off Competition are already out - Southampton expelled with Boro and Milwall knocked out. Unfortunately, therefore, Hull say, they have nobody to play. A number of Boro fans did suggest their own statement did not state Boro should go through, just that Southampton shouldn't. Of course, that was nonsense and Boro pushed for the place. In the Swindon EFL case, although the Commission did not expressly award the place in the EFL Trophy Quarter Final to Luton, the EFL did so. So a Hull v Boro final replicates that approach. I don't think Hull would be able to get a Commission established in time to hear the case or that a Commission would award them a bye but it is not completely impossible. There is an obvious argument that Boro have already (and finally) been knocked out regardless of the retrospective punishment to Southampton. This is not a case where the Commission gave Middlesbrough a 3-0 first leg win - they simply expelled Southampton. But in 2026, who knows... 🍿

🚨 Exclusive: Hull City are consulting lawyers to see if they have a case to be promoted straight to the Premier League after Southampton (subject to an appeal) were expelled from the Championship playoffs. Hull are unhappy at the prospect of facing Middlesbrough at Wembley having spent over a week preparing to play Southampton. Saints appeal is this evening and they will argue the punishment is too harsh. Hull's players had a pre-planned day off today and will return tomorrow with either two days to prepare for Boro, or potentially learn the final is against Southampton again. Hull are leaving legal avenues open, including the prospect of a challenge after the final.🐯 🤝 @alex_crook

🗣️ A statement from Southampton CEO Phil Parsons confirms the club’s appeal against their expulsion from the Championship Playoff Final and a four-point deduction for next season. “We have appealed yesterday's decision by the Independent Disciplinary Commission to expel Southampton Football Club from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs, and to impose a four-point deduction for the 2026/27 season. “Before turning to that appeal, I want to address our supporters, our players, and the wider football community directly and without equivocation. “What happened was wrong. The club has admitted breaches of EFL Regulations 3.4 and 127. We are sorry to the other clubs involved, and most of all to the Southampton supporters whose extraordinary loyalty and support this season deserved better from the club. “We have provided our full co-operation to the EFL's investigation and disciplinary process. Following the appeal, we will also be writing to the EFL to volunteer our participation in a working group on the practical application and enforcement of Regulation 127 across the Championship. Contrition without change is hollow, and we intend to demonstrate change. “On the appeal itself: we accept that there should be a sanction. What we cannot accept is a sanction which bears no proportion to the offence. Whereas Leeds United was fined £200,000 for a similar offence, Southampton has been denied the opportunity to compete in a game worth more than £200 million and one which means so much to our staff, players and supporters. “We believe the financial consequence of yesterday's ruling makes it, by a very considerable distance, the largest penalty ever imposed on an English football club. “Luton Town's 30-point deduction in 2008/09 — to date the most severe sporting sanction in the English game — was levied against a club already in League Two, with no comparable revenue at stake. “Derby County's 21-point deduction in 2021 cost them their Championship status. “Everton's eventual six-point deduction in 2023/24 followed losses of £124.5 million, a figure dwarfed by what has been taken from Southampton in a single afternoon. “The largest financial penalty ever levied by the Premier League, against Chelsea in March of this year, was £10.75 million, and was accompanied by no sporting sanction whatsoever despite involving £47.5 million in undisclosed payments over seven years. “We say this not to minimise what occurred at this club, which we have accepted was wrong. We say it because proportionality is itself a principle of natural justice. “The Commission was entitled to impose a sanction. It was not, we will argue, entitled to impose one that is manifestly disproportionate to every previous sanction in the history of the English game. “Our appeal will be heard today, and we will provide a further update in due course.”

@ymick60 @henrywinter Correct

Absolute disgrace, it’s almost as if @boro have a representative on the EFL Board 🤔 vile Club who tried to kill Derby off as they approached extinction. Boro didn’t fail because of a kid with an iPhone videoing but because they only won 2 of their final 11 league games. 🤮

Whilst Soton have cheated I think we can all agree that the punishment does not fit the crime A hefty fine and a points deduction would have sufficed Let’s hope the @premierleague are as strict with Man City? I think we can all now safely say we are right behind @HullCity 🐏 🐯

🚨 Understand Southampton will appeal. Club feel the decision is unjust and are exploring all legal options.

Thats a disgrace by the EFL btw. Boro have been training for days now knowing they’ll play Hull if this happens. Hull have had to prepare for either Southampton or Boro. They’ve been absolutely shafted. Surely you deal with it after the season has ended…

Hull City just picked up a lot of new supporters for next weekend.

@RamsRationalist Is it fuck, EFL have lost the plot. How's about Oxford and Ipswich take this further and we just scrap the whole season...common sense would have been a large fine and a suspended points deduction. This is now a mess that won't finish here.

Southampton expelled from Play off final and get a points deduction. Deserved.

@Boro Southampton's appeal will be heard tomorrow, I wouldn't book your trains just yet!

A statement from MFC: Middlesbrough Football Club welcomes the outcome of today’s Disciplinary Commission hearing. We believe this sends out a clear message for the future of our game regarding sporting integrity and conduct. As a club, we are now focused on our game against Hull City at Wembley on Saturday. Ticket information for our supporters will be available shortly.

@Boro Hope you get battered in the final

@SpondonFlyer @HullCity 100%

All the neutral fans in the country now support @HullCity on Saturday.

@EFL_Comms You've lost the plot, no consideration for the fans who have already bought tickets, paid for trains and hotels...if it was me, I'd be putting a claim in against you now.

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. The effect of today’s order is that Middlesbrough are reinstated into the 2026 Play-Offs and will proceed to the Play-Off Final against Hull City. The final remains scheduled for Saturday 23 May, with the kick-off time to be confirmed. 📘 efl.com/news/2026/may/…