EXPLAINED: Why Southampton have been expelled from play-offs - and what next?

Welcome to SportsCenter.We're going to start with the huge, huge breaking news that Southampton have been expelled from the Championship playoffs, with Middlesbrough reinstated to play in the final.Our chief correspondent, Carvey Solicall, has joined us.This is just broken.in the last few minutes give us the details.

Well we had a bombshell statement just in the last few minutes from the EFL confirming that Southampton have been expelled from the playoff final and Middlesbrough will be taking their place.The statement says that an independent commission has today expelled Southampton from the playoffs after the club admitted to multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorized filming of other clubs training.So this was not just about spying on Middlesbrough before the playoff semifinal.It happened other times during this season as well.The statement goes on to say the effect of today's order is that Middlesbrough are reinstated into the playoffs and will play against Hull City.The final remains for Saturday 23rd of May with the kick -off time to be announced.

confirmed.I'm thinking now, what happens to all those Southampton supporters who've bought tickets for the playoff final?And how are Middlesbrough going to be getting their allocation in time for their fans to attend the game?Remember, the EFL said last week that they were aware.That is why they made it clear to anyone buying tickets be very, very mindful and read the terms and conditions very, very carefully.Now, it gets worse for Southampton because the Commission today has also decided that Southampton will start next season with a four -point deduction back in the Championship.

Now, interesting detail isthe famous pictures of that happening.What we did not know is just a couple of days ago on Sunday the EFL charged Southampton with additional breaches to do with spying on their opponents during this season and Southampton admitted these additional breaches.So now we know that Southampton have put their hands up and said we also spied on Oxford United before our game against them back in December.Ipswich Town before our game against them last month.That was a crucial game.

And also against Middlesbrough, as you see in this infamous picture.Now, I have to make it clear that Southampton are going to appeal.And the statement that we've had from the EFL says that all parties are working to try and resolve any appeal on Wednesday the 20th of May.That is tomorrow.The clock is ticking.I think Some people would say, why are Southampton appealing when they've already admitted these multiple breaches?

I think the basis of their appeal will be that the punishment does not fit the crime.Yes, we've broken the rules, but I think they will be arguing that the punishment of being expelled and losing their Premier League dream is disproportionate.They will probably be arguing to say, we should have had a fine.We should have had a points deduction.But, expanding us from the playoff final is totally disproportionate.

We've not seen the like of this before.Was it completely unexpected, you say, that it's been so severe?

I think most people were expecting Southampton to get a fine or a points deduction.Not many people out there were saying or predicting that Middlesbrough would be back in the playoffs and Southampton would be expelled.Having said that, We are in uncharted waters.This is the first time somebody has broken Rule 127.If we go back to 2019, Marcelo Bielsa was in charge of Leeds United.Leeds United were caught during the middle of the season spying on their opponents.

They were fined £200 ,000, but there was no specific rule in the EFL's rule books about spying on your opponents.As a result of that Leeds case, Rule 127 was introduced, a specific rule that outlaws observing your opponent's training sessions within 72 hours of a game against them.72 hours before a game against them.You're not allowed to do it.It's in the rules now.This is the first time somebody has broken those rules.

And the commission heard the case today.Three -person commission heard the case today.They have decided that Southampton are guilty because they hold their hands up and said we've broken the rules.But they have decided that the appropriate punishment is expulsion and also a four point deduction for next season.

Carver, let's get a Middlesbrough point of view here.Keith Downey has been following this story.He joins us live right now.Keith, this is a staggering situation, isn't it?What have Borough had to say about it?

Yeah, guys, it's an incredible story, this one.I've obviously been stationed at the Middlesbrough training ground for the best part of the last year.since they returned from getting knocked out essentially at Southampton last Wednesday.I've spent most of the day there and I've just got home within the last half an hour to learn this huge breaking news.And I have to say, the feeling down there at Middlesbrough today from those I spoke to, I bumped into three or four of the players who were on a day off enjoying some golf.And the feeling I got from them was that they weren't expecting this.

I think this has probably come as a little bit of a surprise.They were asking me as much as anything else as to what the decision is likely to be.They were very much left in the dark.But for them now, guys, it's going to be all systems go because we are sat here now, Tuesday evening.They've got a game.They've got a championship playoff final, no less.

The game that's worth, you know, 200 million pounds.on Saturday and they've got just a few days to prepare for that.They trained yesterday, having had the weekend off.They were off again today.So look, they've not had much training in their legs over the last few days and they're going to have to get back to work pretty quick.pretty quickly.

The statement said Middlesbrough Football Club welcome 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're now focused on our game against Hull City at Wembley on Saturday.Ticket information for our supporters will be available shortly.So look, as I say, all systems go now at Middlesbrough.As that news has landed on them, just as we learnt about it in the last 20 minutes.

here but will those at the top of the club feel quite vindicated here because they launched the protest hoping this would happen.Not many people thought it would happen but it has.

Yeah, Matt, I think it's the best -case scenario for Middlesbrough.I'm not sure exactly what they were expecting, but I think most people would have assumed it would have more likely have been a fine and a potential points deduction moving forward for Southampton.But as Kavi was just alluding to a moment ago, it's crucial within that statement from the EFL, it says that Southampton have admitted to this breach on more than one club.isn't the first time that they've done this and without doubt that's played a part in this independent commission investigation and that is why they've got to this stage.So look it's a really good outcome for Middlesbrough.Will they be able to physically and mentally get themselves back there to a final?

Because, you know, I saw them on Wednesday getting off that flight at Teesside Airport, flying back from the South Coast, and they looked spent.I have to say they look physically and mentally spent.So they're going to have to go again.You know, many of them were planning holidays.They've had to put that on hold.And I said to you a moment ago there that I'd spoken to a couple of the players there.

Just as I was leaving my position today down at the the training ground where I was in the golf club next door, I actually bumped into Kim Helberg, the manager, and he, at that stage, what we're talking maybe an hour and a half ago, did not know.So this is very much going to be thrown on them at the last minute.And as I touched on a moment ago, they've got about three days to ready themselves.For many of these players, it'll be the biggest game they ever play in.

Do you think they can get prepared in that time?Can they be ready for this massive occasion against Harley?They've had loads more time to get ready for it.

Yeah, well, look, they have to, don't they?They have to.got no option.These are professional footballers.They're paid a lot of money.And while I think probably they've switched off a little bit over this last week, I don't think they'll have been allowed to switch off fully.

The fact that they've been around the training ground, as I say, they came back on the Thursday of last week, the day after they got back from Southampton and they had a debrief, they look back at the season.Of course, there were emotional scenes, weren't there?The emotion was pouring out of Kim Helberg, the manager, in his post -match press conference at St Mary's last Wednesday night.So perhaps they got the emotion out of them.They were then given the weekend off to try and reset and, you know, look back at the season.And look, I think if they're honest with themselves, they probably wouldn't have thought they would be back in this position where they've got a match of this magnitude.

but they just have to just keep themselves ticking over.As I say, one training session yesterday, it was a full -on training session, as I understand it.They've been given a day off today, and look, it'll just be... you know, it'll just be getting their heads down for these next three matches.But if you think of most championship teams, most championship players, Matt, they're used to playing every three days anyway, so it won't be that different.I think the biggest issue for them is they've had pretty much a full week off, and it's where they are at mentally, I would suggest, more than physically at this moment in time.Yeah.

And Keith, if you could just take us back to the incident itself, and, you know, the tree, and the golf club and the guy behind the tree videoing it.It just it was so bizarre and so farcical wasn't you went down there and recreated it yourself and walk through the golf club.Just remind us about all of that.And has this been one of the most ridiculous stories that you've had to cover really and most sort of surreal in some ways.

Yeah, I mean, look, I've been stood next to that tree for the best part of the last week.I think I know every single piece of bark on that tree.We've been obviously broughtlive from there.And it is an incredible situation.It is an incredible story.

I was obviously able to provide that recreation of the events last week.And the reason I did that was because You know, it was incredible what I was learning and what I was hearing.You know, the allegations were just, it just seemed so surreal because when you look at the training ground at Middlesbrough, there's probably plenty of places that a potential spy could hide away and not be seen.But this was, right in the most populated part of the complex.There's golfers walking past, there's cars driving past, you know, you're almost, they're almost touching you as they sneak past on that part of the road and you're only really hidden by that tree.So it was incredible and that was why I did that reconstruction, if you like, last week.

And yeah, this is one of the most incredible stories.If I'm honest, I wasn't expecting an outcome like that.But that just shows exactly what the independent commission have found.It shows what Southampton have admitted to.And look, it's certainly bringing some incredible drama to the knocking stages to the season, the last knockings of the season.

Oh, not half.And I think you're going to have even more eyeballs on that final now.Keith, for the time being, thanks very much.Right.So, Carvey, from a Southampton point of view, you've said that they can and will appeal, but that appeal is tomorrow.Now, to me, it seems quite unlikely, if you've got an appeal on Wednesday, that that's going to be successful before Saturday.

I mean, is there anything else they can do?

You know what?I still think there's hope.Really?The reason I say there is still hope is if you look at the EFL's regulations, it says that an appeal has to be heard by a new three -person panel.So the appeal will be heard by three people.people, so the people who heard the case today and came to the decision that they did.

So if you're Southampton, you're hoping that this new three -person appeal panel, which will be made up of lawyers, senior barristers, King's Council, very, very experienced lawyers, it'll be three new people.And these three new people tomorrow may look at all the evidence and say, yes, Southampton have admitted wrongdoing.They've admitted to multiple breaches.But we feel the punishment does not fit the crime.

But that would be even more incredible, because they've been kicked out and then suddenly have been reinstated within a day.It would be farcical.

No, but that's due process.If you have a hearing, if you have a hearing, you have to have a right of appeal.And Southampton are well within their rights to use that right of appeal.And why wouldn't you use the right of appeal?Because the prize at the end of the day is a place in the Premier League.And that prize could be worth around £200 million from just one season in the Premier League.

So, of course, they're going to explore every legal avenue.Just thinking as a lawyer, I would also think, if you look at this statement from the EFL, Southampton have admitted multiple breaches.They've admitted to spying on Oxford United in December, Ipswich Town in April.So if I was, who finished just outside the playoff places?Wrexham, I think.Has this opened a whole new can of worms, possibly?

So would Wrexham be looking at this and saying, well, Southampton were breaking the rules in December.Why were they not punished then?And if they'd been punished and they'd received a points deduction...would mean that we would have been in the playoffs instead of Southampton.So that opens a whole legal can of worms.The other point I would make is that this, it could get better tomorrow because Southampton could have some measure of success in the appeal and have the punishment changed and reduced.

But on an individual basis, it could get worse.because let's wait and see what the Football Association does.Is the Football Association going to charge anyone with bringing the game into disrepute?And if they do charge anyone with bringing the game into disrepute, what could the punishments be?Because in the past, when coaches and managers have been found guilty of spying on their opponents, it has led to bans of around one year from football.So if anybody at Southampton has admitted personally to taking part in this, to instigating it, to controlling it, to overseeing it, then I would assume that the Football Association would be very, very interested and they could be charged by the Football Association with bringing the game into disrepute.

The final point I would make is this is a very, very big win again for a very famous sports lawyer called Nick DiMarco.I often see him at Queen's Park Rangers because he's a big QPR fan, but he has had incredible amounts of success fighting cases involving football teams.For instance, he was involved in the case recently, which ended up with Sheffield Wednesday not being deducted 15 points.In this case, he was acting on behalf of Middlesbrough.So not just a big win for Middlesbrough, but another big win for Nick DiMarco.

You've just given him a great plug there.I'll be very happy with that.Carver, great stuff as ever.

Thanks very much.