Southampton have faced a significant setback, being expelled from the Championship play-offs due to the 'spygate' scandal. An independent commission delivered a shocking verdict, reinstating Middlesbrough, who will now compete against Hull City in the play-off final on Saturday, May 23.

As part of the ruling, Southampton received a four-point deduction for the upcoming season. The EFL reported that Southampton admitted to "multiple breaches" related to unauthorized filming of opponents’ training sessions prior to matches.

Key Events in the Scandal:

• May 7: Middlesbrough lodged a formal complaint to the EFL, alleging spying by a Southampton staff member.
• May 9: After a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the play-off semi-final, Boro’s boss, Kim Hellberg, accused Southampton of cheating.
• May 12: Southampton was charged with breaching EFL regulations regarding spying.
• May 15: Middlesbrough publicly called for Southampton's expulsion from the play-offs.

The breaches included incidents involving matches against Oxford United, Ipswich Town, and Middlesbrough itself. The EFL confirmed that Southampton's appeal against the commission’s decision could impact the final fixture.

Middlesbrough expressed satisfaction with the ruling, emphasizing the importance of sporting integrity. They are now focused on their upcoming match at Wembley, which could yield around £200 million in revenue for the winning team. Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol noted that Middlesbrough feels vindicated and justified in their stance against Southampton's actions.