Shell B

A night of Saints as villains. And Villans as saints.

@EFL_Comms Please make sure Hull win now

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

@MENnewsdesk Time for a 1 way mirror protecting the identity of the jury?

BREAKING: Jury in Manchester Airport brothers re-trial discharged after failing to reach verdicts manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-m…

@SkyNews What about what they did to Middlesbrough? Gained an unfair advantage and beat them over 2 legs, to deny THEM the chance to compete in a play-off final worth £200m+ to the winner. How is allowing Southampton to play that match going to placate Middlesbrough?

BREAKING: Southampton FC have released a statement after the decision by the Independent Disciplinary Commission to expel them from the Championship play-offs. The football club have said: 'What happened was wrong - but the punishment is disproportionate' trib.al/K9F2j7m

@SouthamptonFC You haven't lost £200m. You have lost right to play in a play off final. Doesn't mean you would have won it.

A statement from Phil Parsons, Chief Executive, Southampton Football Club.

@PaulRomainCPFC @RachelReevesMP Should I expect the hurty words police at my door?

@shellb12271 @RachelReevesMP No need to be rude.

Growth higher than forecast, borrowing down, and now inflation falling further than expected. This Labour government has the right economic plan.

@RachelReevesMP youtube.com/watch?v=Nr0U-F…

@RachelReevesMP ;)

@BaconBantam @HullCity If it's Middlebrough they need to be able to get trains back home. I'm guessing the last trains are earlier than those to Southampton.

@HullCity Why does the time need changing depending on who is playing? Trains and coaches were booked based on the 4.30pm kick off to have the rug pulled with 3 days notice. EFL are a shit show.

Our play-off final against Middlesbrough at Wembley on Saturday 23 May will now kick-off at 3:30pm. Should the outcome of the ongoing appeal process result in Southampton contesting the final against the Tigers, kick-off will revert to 4:30pm. Supporters who have successfully purchased tickets will receive their digital match tickets once the club are permitted to send. The club remains in regular dialogue with all relevant stakeholders and will communicate further details, including ticket release and Tiger Travel information, once final confirmation of the fixture has been received. We would like to thank our supporters for their continued understanding and patience. We cannot wait to see a sea of black and amber under the arch this weekend. #hcafc

@HullCity Can't believe how much your club and fans are being messed around here. Whoever you play all neutrals will be rooting for you I'm sure. Good luck

@aftertheflood_ @SkyNews Its potentially a LOT more than that

@SkyNews yes. i want to know who at southampton organised it and if they've been fired. they've cost their team over £100 million.

BREAKING: Southampton FC kicked out of Championship play-off final over 'spygate' #liveblog-body" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">news.sky.com/story/spygate-…

@SkyNews I really hope Hull go up now. They have been messed about here

We want to hear from all football fans on tonight's decision to expel Southampton from the play-off final. Do you agree with the decision? Was it harsh? Let us know in the comments box in our live blog ⬇️ #liveblog-body" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">news.sky.com/story/spygate-…

@_callumfowler Let's assume at this point that they spied on everyone

There could be more coming from this for Southampton aswell Wrexham will want compo for finishing 7th Oxford will with proof and being relegated Hull will for lack of prep time So many clubs have a case

@FPL_Sarr29 @_callumfowler Good!

@_callumfowler I know they have done wrong but look at the results of the games where they done it, they didn’t win any

@elsathora The EFL will make sure Hull win don't worry

Completely unfair on Hull City 4 days before the biggest game in a decade they suddenly have a new opponent An opponent that didn’t win even one game in the play off semi finals

@AdamFulwell_ The EFL will make sure Hull win don't worry

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…

@Phenomenal36710 @henrywinter Millwall as well apparently

@henrywinter It gets worse. The EFL investigation revealed they didn't just spy on us. They admitted to doing the exact same thing to Oxford United and Ipswich Town earlier in the season.Unbelievable breach of integrity. They completely rigged their way through the league.

Southampton kicked out of Championship play-off final for spying. Correct decision, especially as it transpires they spied on three clubs in total. This is about more than a bloke standing behind a tree with an iPhone. It’s about how seriously the game should take cheating. EFL independent disciplinary commission have struck a blow for fair play, for integrity, for the need for respect between clubs, for coaches to have an expectation of privacy in training. 25% of goals scored in the Championship this season were from set-pieces. Clubs practised them. Understandably, coaches don’t want their plans revealed. EFL sending a strong message with this punishment.  Spygate 2 different from Spygate 1. Rules tightened and punishments introduced since Leeds United’s offence. Appeals, of course. It’s tough for Southampton fans to be denied the trip to Wembley and the chance of a return to the Premier League. It’s particularly tough that many have forked out for tickets, travel and accommodation. Their frustration and anger should be directed at their club. Southampton should recompense fans. It’s not the fans’ fault.  The stupidity in all this is that Southampton would probably have beaten Boro anyway. Better team, stronger bench. But this is so damning… “Southampton admitted breaches of Regulations requiring Clubs to act with the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another Club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match,” says EFL. “The admitted breaches concern fixtures against Oxford United in December 2025, Ipswich Town in April 2026 and Middlesbrough in May 2026.” So the punishment is proportionate. It should act as a deterrent. Honesty matters.

@SaintsExtra @sfcawaynumbers Oh dear, that's a lot of refunds to process

🚨🎟️ Southampton’s 37,604 ticket allocation for Saturday’s Championship play-off final at Wembley is now SOLD OUT #saintsfc @sfcawaynumbers

@Boro Me thinks the EFL need Hull to win on saturday to put an end to this.

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.