BREAKING NEWS 🚨 Southampton EXPELLED from Championship Play-Off final after SPYGATE!

Stop what you're doing, everyone.If you're just about to get out of the car, don't.

If you're going to turn the radio off, don't.Stay where you are.We have huge, massive news in the world of football.Let's speak to Tooksport's chief football correspondent, Alex Crook.He joins us now with that massive, massive news.Crooky, good evening.

Good evening once again, Andy.I have to say, this is a pretty seismic development because in the last few minutes, we've had a statement from the EFL confirming that Southampton have been expelled from Saturday's Championship Playoff final.So Southampton will not be taking on Hull as originally planned in the Championship Playoff final.Instead, Middlesbrough have been reinstated to take on the Tigers at Wembley.Live on Talksport, Southampton have also been hit with a four point deduction starting next season.And of course, this all relates to the allegations of spying Southampton admitted to an independent commission two breaches of regulations one for observing the training session of an opponent less than 72 hours before a game that was really the big allegation that they admitted and also not acting in a proper manner or not acting with the utmost good faith so two charges admitted by Southampton and the independent panel have decided the suitable punishment is to remove them from the championship playoff final.

The £200 million game.They won't get the chance as it stands to play at Wembley for a place in the Premier League.Middlesbrough have been pushing for this sanction and for this very severe punishment.They lost, of course, over two legs to Southampton in the semi -final.They're back in.They'll play Hull live on talkSPORT at Wembley this Saturday.

Southampton do have the right to appeal and the EFL are telling us tonight hope to hear any appeal by the close of play tomorrow.So Southampton basically have 24 hours to convince a separate independent commission that this penalty is harsh and they should be reinstated to that penalty.final.Incredible breaking news.

It is absolutely mad.Just quickly, the game at the weekend, the playoff finals, is this still the same kickoff time?

No, I think they put out a tweet the EFL saying that it's going to go ahead on Saturday May the 23rd It will now be Middlesbrough against Hull kickoff time was originally scheduled I believe for 4 .30 That is now subject to review it may well be brought Earlier given the close proximity of the two teams.I'm sure the Met Police will have a say on that But I think there is still a possibility If Southampton do appeal this decision that the EFL may have to postpone that championship playoff final I don't know.There are a couple of dates next midweek reserve with Wembley.for that eventuality.

I didn't see a scenario where Southampton are in the playoff final because actively they've cheated, been caught, And how do you, how do you punish them?

I mean, you now talk about the biggest game ever.Middlesbrough were never going to allow that.They were going to obviously go to court and do what they needed to do.But the fact that EFL have come out with such a strong punishment now, it just sends that message.And I think they had to.It says the message, if you get caught and you're doing this, this is the punishment.

So, wow.

I'm stunned by it.I think it's the wrong decision.Yeah, they cheated.I know, but lots of clubs have cheated, right?From tapping up players, which we know goes on with every single club.A lot of clubs, the majority, have never faced a punishment.

So, look at Man City with these 115 charges.That's the thing.I think that's...That's never come...The fact that they have been kicked out ahead of a possibility, a chance, the richest game in world football, to go into the Premier League after a whole season long, and it's a long season in the championship, and I think it's a long season.are missing out, I think is an absolutely barking decision.

It is cheating, it is cheating, right?But I just don't think...Kicking them out of the plough final is the right thing to do.

Yeah, but what message did you send?They've cheated and actively, whatever they've used to cheat, that's giving them that percentage.

We don't know that.They have cheated, but I don't know if this makes a difference.I'm just talking out loud.We don't know if what they cheated with helped them win the game.You might say that's irrelevant.Maybe it is. I'm just talking out loud.

I just think it's silly.Geese are standing behind a tree.

Thou shalt not get caught.That's the problem.

I just...I'm getting more news on this as it breaks.So let me just tell you what I've got in front of me.The game is scheduled to go ahead on Saturday.Kick -off time between Hull and Borough will be confirmed.A four -point penalty to Southampton for next season in the Championship.

There's a further paragraph from today's EFL statement.It reads, Southampton admitted breaches of the regulations requiring clubs to act with the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another club's training session with 72 hours of a scheduled match.The admitted breaches concern fixtures against Oxford United in December 2025, Ipswich Town in April 2026 and Borough of course in May this year.So it's not the first time they've done it.

Exactly.Come on now Andy.So you've just read out the amount of times it's happened and they've been called.What more?What more?But I do get it from, like Southampton fans right now will be gutted and they'll be sick of thinking Their first thoughts are going to be, well hold on, Manchester City.

We've got one here, let's speak to one.Max joins us, Saints fan.Max, good evening to you.You're the first person to react to this.I think bonkers news, Benny doesn't.What do you think?

I'll be honest mate, I had to pull over.I'm on my way home from work and I had to pull over because I thought someone was taking the mic.My mate rang me and said, have you heard this?I've just had to pull over at the services and obviously I've seen it everywhere.I'm living, but to be honest,I have absolutely no idea why I'm annoyed more than my own football club.

I'm 19 years of age, I go to work every day 9 to 5, I craft, I've forked out the best part of 250 quid on a ticket, train, non -refundable hotels to go out to Wembley on Saturday and this is what's happening.So I'm mad at my football club for allowing this to happen.Who on earth I don't think Middlesbrough is to blame in this scenario.I'm not saying that at all one bit, but they have absolutely stirred the pot this time as well.It's a tricky one, because if he has sanctioned that himself, which by the way, let's be clear, we don't know if he has or we don't know if it's higher up.I'm going to use Benny's words against him here, if that's alright.

He said the other day, the manager doesn't care where the information's come from, he's too busy.So, if he has sanctioned that, and Sondreker allowed that to happen under his watch knowingly, then he is a disgrace and he needs to go.It undoes all his hard work.And it's not who we are as a football club.

Max, thank you for that call.I feel for Maxy again.Fans, shout out all that money.

Let's find out.Someone made a good point and they're right.When Grimsby filled with that ineligible player at the start of the season, you were saying that he should be thrown out.

Only for comedy value.Let's bring back Tucksport's Chief Football Correspondent, Alex Crook.He's got more on this story.It's moving minute by minute.Cookie, where are we at now?

Certainly is.I've got a statement from Middlesbrough saying the 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.And they finished this statement by saying ticket information for our supporters will be available shortly.So Middlesbrough clearly feel that justice has been done, that the Saints have turned into sinners.

But just a mention of the perspective from Hull City, the opponents in that playoff final at the weekend.I spoke to somebody very senior at Hull on Saturday night.They didn't want this outcome because they've been preparing for more than a week now to face Southampton in the playoff final.So all of a sudden they've got to tear up their preparation and prepare now to face a different team.

Crookie, thank you for that.How funny is that?Even if Arsenal win the Prem tonight, no one really cares about this now.

Listen, I do care about this, but boy, Arsenal win it.

Let me just round off our show, but of course, your view doesn't end there.In fact, it begins now.Nathalie Sawyer takes over from us in about 90 seconds.So if you've not had a chance, Boris Sainz, and even whole fans if you want, your opponents change for the final at the weekend.If that final happens at the weekend, that even could move as well.For more on that, stay with TalkSport.