Saints and Sinners: What we know about Spygate

Southampton Football Club lost its appeal against being kicked out of the play-off final for spying on three clubs in the Championship season.

The English Football League (EFL) charged Saints with watching training sessions involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town, in addition to filming Middlesbrough as they prepared for the first leg of their play-off semi-final.

The club lodged an appeal but on Wednesday evening an independent league arbitration panel rejected it.

The club described it as an "extremely disappointing outcome" but said it was "clear that trust now needs to be rebuilt".

So what now for the Saints?

Southampton will now miss out on a game dubbed the richest in world football, with the winners of the play-off final guaranteed a minimum £110m in Premier League broadcast revenue.

The EFL charged Saints with breaking two regulations.

• EFL Regulation 3.4, which requires clubs to act towards each other with the utmost good faith; and
• EFL Regulation 127, which prohibits any club from observing, or attempting to observe, another club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match between the two clubs

Southampton admitted to "multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs' training", the EFL said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Phil Parsons, chief executive at Southampton FC said in a statement: "What happened was wrong. The club has admitted breaches of EFL Regulations 3.4 and 127.

"We are sorry to the other clubs involved, and most of all to the Southampton supporters whose extraordinary loyalty and support this season deserved better from the club.

"We have provided our full co-operation to the EFL's investigation and disciplinary process.

"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."

Following the decision of the panel, the club said in a statment: "This is an extremely disappointing outcome for everybody connected with Southampton Football Club.

"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."

Fans have been reacting to the news since Wednesday morning.

"The fans are suffering because of their stupidity," said Mike Ross, one of the many Saints fans across the city struggling to digest the news.

"They should have known the rules and regulations like everyone else does," he added.

Margaret Holmes added that she "can't understand why they did it" stating that Southampton is "a good team" that had been doing well.

"They didn't need to do that," she said.

Saints midfielder Leo Scienza said his side's expulsion was "heartbreaking" and expressed sympathy for everyone involved, including Hull and Middlesbrough.

In a post on Instagram, he said: "We gave everything for this dream. Day after day, sacrifice after sacrifice, always believing we could bring this club back to where it belongs.

"For me, the dream of playing in the Premier League was something I fought for with everything I had. That's why this pain cuts so deep.

"The hardest part is knowing how much our fans deserved this moment. You stood behind us all season with incredible passion, loyalty and belief. Even in the toughest moments, you carried us forward.

"Thank you for staying with us through everything, you definitely deserved better."

Fellow midfielder Kuryu Matsuki, who made 20 league appearances in this Championship campaign, thanked fans for their "incredible support" this season.

In a post on Instagram, he said: "It is difficult to put my feelings into words right now, but from the very beginning of the season, we set ourselves the goal of earning promotion to the Premier League, and every single day we fought together while supporting one another.

"And without a doubt, it was all of you - our fans and supporters - who stood by us until the very end and gave us the strength to keep moving forward.

"Thank you very much for everything."

The decision is final and there is no further right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Middlesbrough, beaten by Southampton in the semi-final, were reinstated and will now play Hull City on Saturday (15:30 BST kick-off) with a place in the Premier League on the line.

Hull, meanwhile, are unhappy they will have to face different opponents at short notice, with owner Acun Ilicali suggesting the club could take legal action if they lose the final.