EFL provide major update over Championship play-off final after Southampton's expulsion
Southampton have been kicked out of the Championship play-off final
|GB NEWS
The Saints were thrown out of the play-offs and handed a four-point penalty that will be applied to their 2026/27 Championship campaign
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The EFL have confirmed the new kick-off time for the Championship play-off final following Southampton's expulsion.
The game was initially scheduled to get underway at 4:30pm on May 23, but has been moved an hour ahead, with the kick-off time being confirmed for 3:30pm.
The game will be played between Hull City and Middlesbrough, subject to Southampton's appeal.
Should the outcome of the Saints' appeal mean they are reinstated, the kick-off time will remain at 4:30pm.

The new kick-off time for the Championship play-off final will be 3:30pm
|GETTY
The Saints were thrown out of the play-offs following the 'spygate' affair, after an Independent Disciplinary Commission delivered its verdict.
Southampton were given a four-point penalty that will be applied to their 2026/27 Championship campaign and will not face Hull City in the final.
The punishment follows Southampton's admission to multiple violations of EFL rules concerning the illicit recording of rival clubs' training sessions.
The EFL confirmed that Southampton faced initial charges on Friday, May 8, with additional allegations following on Sunday, May 17, after further incidents came to light during the original investigation.

The Saints were thrown out of the play-offs following the 'spygate' affair
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The club acknowledged breaking regulations that mandate clubs operate with complete good faith and forbid surveillance of opponents' training within 72 hours of a fixture.
The controversy erupted on May 7 when Middlesbrough lodged an official complaint with the EFL, alleging that a Southampton staff member had observed their training three days prior to the play-off semi-final first leg.
Following a goalless draw at the Riverside Stadium, Boro manager Kim Hellberg accused his opponents of cheating.
The second leg at St Mary's on May 12 saw Shea Charles score in extra time to secure a 2-1 victory for Southampton.

Middlesbrough will play in the play-off final on Saturday
| REUTERSHellberg condemned what he called "disgraceful spying", whilst Saints boss Tonda Eckert walked out of his post-match press conference when asked: "Are you a cheat?"
Photographs subsequently emerged, appearing to show a Southampton analyst in the vicinity of Middlesbrough's training facility.
Middlesbrough had publicly demanded Southampton's removal from the play-offs on May 15, stating that preventing the club from appearing in the final represented "the only appropriate response" given the circumstances.

Kim Hellberg's side have continued training and are one step away from the Premier League
| GETTYThe Teesside club's squad resumed training as they awaited the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings.
The EFL warned on May 14 that "the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture".
That warning has now materialised, with Middlesbrough granted a second chance at promotion just before the Wembley showpiece.
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