Southampton hit out at ‘largest penalty ever’ for spying on opponents

Southampton have been expelled from the Championship playoffs and docked four points for next season after an independent commission found them guilty of three spying charges, including covertly observing a Middlesbrough training session ahead of their playoff semi-final. The club's chief executive apologised to fans while Southampton called the punishment 'manifestly disproportionate,' describing it as the largest penalty in English football history. As a result, Middlesbrough were reinstated to Saturday's playoff final, costing Southampton a shot at Premier League promotion worth an estimated £200 million.