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Football May 18, 2026

Spygate: Southampton's Championship play-off final fate to be determined as date set for independent hearing

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Spygate: Southampton's Championship play-off final fate to be determined as date set for independent hearing

The independent hearing to determine Southampton's Championship play-off final fate will take place on or before Tuesday May 19 - but the date of the match at Wembley four days later could be changed.

That independent commission will meet to determine what will happen to the Saints, who are set to meet Hull City at Wembley on Saturday May 23, with the kick-off now scheduled at 4.30pm.

However, the EFL has revealed contingency plans for a change to the final proceedings are in place "should they be required" - including if an appeal process to the hearing takes place.

The exact date and time of the initial independent hearing is yet to be determined.

In a statement, the EFL said: "As the proceedings are being conducted by an Independent Disciplinary Commission, the EFL does not control the proposed timetable.

"Notwithstanding this, the EFL continues to plan on the basis that the Championship play-off final will take place as scheduled on Saturday May 23, with the kick-off time confirmed as 4.30pm.

"Supporters should, however, be aware that the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture. The EFL has a number of contingency plans should they be required, which also includes consideration of any appeal process, if required."

It is possible Southampton could be thrown out of the Championship play-offs and denied the chance of promotion to the Premier League, if an independent commission upholds the charge they spied on a Middlesbrough training session in the build-up to their play-off semi-final.

Southampton were charged with breaching EFL regulations after Middlesbrough's complaint that a member of.

Your Site News has since obtained a photo that shows a man outside Middlesbrough's training ground with a camera.

Middlesbrough's players will report back to the club training ground on Monday - with their summer plans in limbo.

The squad, who were knocked out of the Championship play-offs by Southampton on Tuesday, will be given the weekend off before returning to training next week.

The training pitch was due to be dug up, but that has also been put on hold. The players were back in on Thursday for a recovery session and debrief.

Southampton's players, meanwhile, are enjoying a few days off before returning to training on Sunday.

The Saints' plan was to always allow some rest and recovery time for the squad and staff after what's been an intense few days and busy end to the season.

The club's progression in the FA Cup meant a number of their league matches had to be moved to mid-week which lead to a frenetic end to the campaign.

Speaking about the decision to continue as normal with ticket sales, the EFL statement said: "This decision follows ongoing coordination with the clubs to ensure that on-sale arrangements can be implemented as soon as practicable.

"The league recognises that this complex situation has caused concern and disruption for supporters, particularly those making travel arrangements, and will continue to provide as much clarity as possible.

"However, in these clearly exceptional circumstances, the league considers this to be the most appropriate course of action."

Both Southampton and Hull City then released information around tickets for the play-off final at Wembley.

Hull have received an allocation of 35,984 tickets for the east side of Wembley Stadium, with seats located from the North Stand round to the South Stand.

Hull have added this caveat to their ticketing information, following the EFL's statement earlier on Thursday: "As per the EFL's most recent communication, supporters should, however, be aware that the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings involving Southampton may yet result in changes to the fixture."

Southampton have been allocation the same number of tickets on the west side of the stadium.

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