Southampton have questioned the independence of the disciplinary panel that expelled the club from the Championship play-offs. The club cited apparent historic and indirect connections of two panel members to Middlesbrough.
Southampton were expelled from the play-offs and handed a four-point deduction after admitting to spying on Middlesbrough ahead of their semi-final tie, which the Saints won 1-0, as well as matches against Ipswich Town and Oxford United. Middlesbrough replaced Southampton in the final at Wembley but lost 1-0 to Hull City, who earned promotion to the Premier League. An arbitration panel later dismissed Southampton's appeal against the sanctions.
