Lincoln City are already off the bottom of the EFL Championship, after Southampton were hit with a four-point deduction as part of their punishment for spying.
The Saints have also been expelled from the Championship play-offs after admitting multiple breaches of EFL regulations relating to the unauthorised filming of opposition training sessions.
The EFL confirmed the decision following a hearing before an Independent Disciplinary Commission, with Saints also handed a four-point deduction to be applied at the start of the 2026/27 Championship campaign. The punishment follows what has quickly become one of the most controversial disciplinary cases in recent EFL history.
The charges centred around incidents involving Southampton staff observing or filming training sessions ahead of matches during the 2025/26 season. The club admitted breaches of regulations requiring clubs to act with “the utmost good faith” and rules specifically prohibiting the observation of another side’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled fixture.
The admitted breaches related to matches against Oxford United in December 2025, Ipswich Town in April 2026 and Middlesbrough earlier this month. Initial charges were brought against Southampton on 8 May, but further allegations emerged during the investigation, leading to additional charges being issued on 17 May.
The situation remains fluid because Southampton retain the right to appeal the decision. The EFL stated that all parties are attempting to resolve any appeal process by tomorrow in order to avoid further disruption to the play-off schedule. Should an appeal succeed or alter the sanctions, there remains the possibility of another late change to the final itself.
The case has already sparked widespread debate across the Championship, with the severity of the punishment underlining how seriously the EFL has treated the offences. Expulsion from the play-offs is virtually unprecedented in the modern era, particularly after fixtures have already been played, and the additional points deduction ensures the repercussions will stretch well beyond this season.
What it means for us is that we’ll be off the bottom of the table even after the first weekend, whatever the outcome of the fixtures. Four points in unlikely to be enough to keep the Saints in relegation trouble for long, but once again, the Championship starts with a points disparity between clubs, only this time, we benefit!