Southampton have lost their appeal against the EFL, with Middlesbrough now officially confirmed as Hull City’s opponents in Sunday’s Championship play-off final.
Saints were expelled from the showpiece on Tuesday after admitting to spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, as well as two other rival clubs, during an independent disciplinary hearing.
In a bid to overturn the decision, Southampton turned to leading barrister Lord Pannick KC, who is also representing Manchester City in their ongoing legal battle with the Premier League over the club’s 115 financial charges.
Reports emerged on Wednesday that Pannick had been drafted in at the eleventh hour to argue that Southampton’s expulsion from the final was ‘disproportionate’ during an appeal hearing that began at 6pm.
Their appeal was dismissed.
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