Southampton players are considering legal action against the club following their expulsion from the Championship play-off final due to a spying scandal. The English Football League (EFL) announced on Tuesday that Southampton has been expelled from the play-offs after admitting to unauthorized filming of other clubs' training sessions. The club has also received a four-point deduction for the 2026-27 season, both sanctions of which they will appeal.

The governing body's Independent Disciplinary Commission found that Southampton had admitted to multiple breaches of EFL Regulations related to the unauthorized filming of other clubs' training sessions. The EFL's statement confirmed that the parties are working to try and resolve any appeal on Wednesday, 20 May, and that subject to the outcome, it could result in a further change to Saturday's fixture.

A source close to the dressing room, speaking anonymously as they were not authorized to do so, confirmed that Tonda Eckert’s squad had largely been kept away from the affair and only had the basic details communicated to them by the club. The players were furious at the EFL verdict, having only found out at the same time as everyone else, with members of the squad who had taken 40 per cent pay cuts after suffering relegation from the top flight year were due to have that reinstated in the event of promotion to the Premier League.

They are due to meet with the club on Wednesday, and sources with knowledge of the players’ situation confirmed to The Athletic that they have contacted the Professional Footballers’ Association for advice. Among Middlesbrough’s evidence submitted was a photo of the alleged 'spy', a member of head coach Tonda Eckert’s backroom analysis team, half-covered by a tree at their Rockliffe Park training ground holding up his mobile phone.

The EFL charge came last week after a Southampton analyst, William Salt, allegedly observed Middlesbrough’s training session 48 hours before the teams met in the play-off semi-final first leg. The match finished 0-0 but Southampton won the tie 2-1 with a stoppage-time goal in the second leg at St Mary’s.

The admitted breaches concern fixtures against Oxford United in December 2025, Ipswich Town in April 2026 and Middlesbrough in May 2026. Southampton lost the Oxford fixture 2-1, and drew against Ipswich 2-2. Southampton finished the league season fourth on 80 points, level with Middlesbrough in fifth. Hull City finished seven points behind in sixth.