Southampton have failed in their appeal to get their expulsion from the Championship play-offs overturned.
Saints were thrown out of the play-off final by an independent disciplinary commission after they admitted multiple breaches of spying on other teams – including on play-off semi-final opponents Middlesbrough before the first leg.
They immediately appealed the decision but a league arbitration panel upheld the punishment, which also includes a four-point deduction for next season’s Championship campaign.
Middlesbrough, who were beaten 2-1 by Southampton in the semi-final, were readmitted to the play-offs on Tuesday and will face Hull in Saturday’s final at Wembley.
Southampton have no option to appeal for a second time with the EFL saying: “The decision is final and cannot be appealed”.
Southampton responded to what they called “an extremely disappointing outcome” with a club statement, which called the verdict “disproportionate”.
However, they also said they would react with “humility” and set about trying to regain the trust of their supporters.
They said: “This is an extremely disappointing outcome for everybody connected with Southampton Football Club. We know how painful this moment will be for our supporters, players, staff, commercial partners and the wider community who have given so much backing to the team throughout the season and we apologise once again to everyone impacted by this.
“While we fully acknowledge the seriousness of this matter and the scrutiny that has followed, the club has consistently believed the original sporting sanction was disproportionate, a view that has been widely shared by many in the football community over the last 24 hours.
“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to our supporters for the support, patience and loyalty they have shown throughout an incredibly difficult period. We will share information as soon as possible in relation to ticket refunds for those who bought tickets to Wembley.
“Southampton Football Club has a proud history and strong foundations, but it is clear that trust now needs to be rebuilt. That work begins immediately. The club will reflect carefully on the events that have led to this point, learn from them and take the necessary steps to move forward responsibly.
“While tonight is a painful moment, this football club will respond with humility, accountability and determination to put things right.”
Southampton, who had finished fourth in the regular season, were reported to the EFL by Middlesbrough after an intern, William Salt, was spotted and pictured recording a training session at Boro’s Rockliffe Park complex.
They were charged by the EFL and subsequently admitted spying on Oxford, before a 2-1 defeat in December, and Ipswich, before a 2-2 draw in April.
In Southampton’s first club statement of Wednesday, chief executive Phil Parsons called it the biggest punishment ever given to an English club and suggested it could cost Southampton in excess of £200m – the value of promotion to the Premier League.
He wrote: “What happened was wrong. 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 £200m 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 £124.5m, a figure dwarfed by what has been taken from Southampton in a single afternoon.”
Middlesbrough, whose manager Kim Hellberg had accused Southampton of cheating, had called for Saints to be kicked out of the play-offs and got their wish on Tuesday, with the decision then upheld a day later.
The EFL will publish the full written reasons for the decision in due course while Southampton wait to see if individuals, including manager Tonda Eckert, will face misconduct charges from the FA.
