"Two weeks ago this was a case of people sat in a bush with binoculars, surveillance equipment and all sorts of hi-tech things, and it turns out to be a bloke with an iPhone with a pair of headphones in his ear," suggests Nick Illingsworth, from Southampton’s The Ugly Inside fanzine speaking on BBC Radio Solent.

"Do I think it affected the game up at Middlesbrough in terms of cheating by standing on a road and watching it, as much as Middlesbrough’s centre half spent half the game pulling Cyle Larin's shirt off his back? No. That was cheating and it affected the game a lot, lot more.

"But we’ve held our hands up, we’ve said yes, we cheated, and the punishment has to fit the crime, and as someone said to me earlier, it’s like being given the death sentence for stealing a packet of crisps in a supermarket."

You can watch a BBC Radio Solent special programme at the top of this page now.

Tap Watch Live above, or click here.

The hearing to decide on Southampton's appeal should now be getting under way.

It is not a public hearing so now it's a waiting game.

We will bring you updates as soon as we have them.

Southampton's statement earlier referenced several previous points deductions, including Luton Town's 30-point penalty in 2008-09 - the largest ever handed down and which ultimately cost them their place in the league.

Southampton argued that Luton's deduction - which was for entering administration and illegal payments to players - had "no comparable revenue at stake" like the Championship play-off final.

Deductions for Derby County in 2021, Everton in 2023-24 and Chelsea's escape with just a financial penalty earlier this year for payments to agents and clubs were also mentioned.

The club says it pointed this out "not to minimise what occurred" but because it does not believe the punishment is proportionate.

"The Commission was entitled to impose a sanction. It was not, we will argue, entitled to impose one that is manifestly disproportionate to every previous sanction in the history of the English game," chief executive Phil Parsons said.

The appeal hearing to decide whether to overturn Southampton's punishment is set to start at 18:00 BST, the BBC understands.

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City have told BBC Look North they are consulting with their lawyers on their legal position.

With Southampton expelled after defeating Middlesbrough in the semis, do Hull feel they should be promoted automatically?

So far they haven't elaborated further.

As things stand, the Tigers are set to play Boro on Saturday at 15:30 BST.

BBC Sport’s Sam Harris explains that Saints fans can't claim ticket refunds yet.

Image source, PA Media

"We're a laughing stock," said Russell Kitching, a Southampton fan speaking outside St Mary's stadium.

He said loyal fans "don't want to be labelled as cheats".

He is calling for every fan to be given £1,500 and a free season ticket for next year's campaign.

He added that if the club did not act then fans would go and potentially support their local non-league football teams.

Image source, PA Media

Dowayne Neufville, said the whole issue was "diabolical", adding that he was "distraught".

He said a refund would be the "bare minimum" but has also asked for the club to communicate with the fans, help them understand how the culture will change going forward.

"It's fans that make the club," he added.

Image source, Getty Images

Alfie House, senior Southampton reporter at the Daily Echo, told BBC Radio Solent he thought it would be "a remarkable turnaround" if Saints were allowed to take part in the play-off final again.

"For me it feels fanciful," he added.

He recognised the Saints' point that they had been punished more than other clubs in the past but said the fact that they admitted to multiple offences made it seem like a "systemic issue" and may be the reason for the harsh punishment.

"I just hope that there's a decision today, which makes a little bit of this feel better because at the moment it's a really dark day," House said.

Image source, SFC

The full statement from Phil Parsons, chief executive, Southampton FC:

"We have appealed yesterday's decision by the Independent Disciplinary Commission to expel Southampton Football Club from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs, and to impose a four-point deduction for the 2026/27 season.

"Before turning to that appeal, I want to address our supporters, our players, and the wider football community directly and without equivocation.

"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.

"Following the appeal, we will also be writing to the EFL to volunteer our participation in a working group on the practical application and enforcement of Regulation 127 across the Championship.

"Contrition without change is hollow, and we intend to demonstrate change.

"On the appeal itself: we accept that there should be a sanction. What we cannot accept is a sanction which bears no proportion to the offence.

"Whereas Leeds United was fined £200,000 for a similar offence, Southampton has been denied the opportunity to compete in a game worth more than £200 million and one which means so much to our staff, players and supporters.

"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.

"Luton Town's 30-point deduction in 2008/09 — to date the most severe sporting sanction in the English game — was levied against a club already in League Two, with no comparable revenue at stake. Derby County's 21-point deduction in 2021 cost them their Championship status.

"Everton's eventual six-point deduction in 2023/24 followed losses of £124.5 million, a figure dwarfed by what has been taken from Southampton in a single afternoon.

"The largest financial penalty ever levied by the Premier League, against Chelsea in March of this year, was £10.75 million, and was accompanied by no sporting sanction whatsoever despite involving £47.5 million in undisclosed payments over seven years.

"We say this not to minimise what occurred at this club, which we have accepted was wrong. We say it because proportionality is itself a principle of natural justice.

"The Commission was entitled to impose a sanction. It was not, we will argue, entitled to impose one that is manifestly disproportionate to every previous sanction in the history of the English game.

"Our appeal will be heard today, and we will provide a further update in due course."

Image source, PA/Peter Tarry

Southampton Football Club has now issued a statement following its expulsion from the Championship play-offs after admitting spying allegations.

Phil Parsons, the club's chief executive, said: "What happened was wrong" and he apologised to the fans, players and the other clubs affected.

He said supporters "deserved better from the club".

On the punishment, he added: "What we cannot accept is a sanction which bears no proportion to the offence.

"Southampton has been denied the opportunity to compete in a game worth more than £200 million and one which means so much to our staff, players and supporters," it added.

Briony Leyland
BBC South Today

More reaction from the streets of Southampton to the decision by the EFL to kick Southampton out of the play-offs, giving their place in Saturday's final to Middlesbrough.

"The fans are suffering because of their stupidity," says 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 said 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.

Briony Leyland
BBC South Today

Southampton fans have been giving their reaction to the team being expelled from the Championship play-offs.

Adrian Feuchtwanger on Shirley High Street said spying in football was not frowned upon in Europe.

He said: "On the continent they have practices where you do go and observe your competitors and that's not a moral transgression over there."

But he accepted that it is against the rules in England.

Image source, PA Media

Tickets have gone on sale to Middlesbrough fans ahead of the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Boro are set to take on Hull City for a spot in the Premier League after Southampton were thrown out of the Championship play-offs.

The club said it had been allocated 35,984 tickets for the West End of Wembley Stadium.

It said tickets were only available on its ticketing website "in recognition of the short timescales and number of tickets available".

Bobbi Huyton
BBC Your Voice

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City feel like the forgotten side in all of this.

Since the high of beating Millwall in the semi-final, it’s been a draining wait just to find out who City are playing - and when.

As a fan, this is Hull City’s most important game in a decade - yet the entire build-up has been overshadowed by uncertainty.

There’s also a footballing impact to consider. Hull’s preparation all week has been geared towards facing Southampton.

Supporter groups made their position clear in a joint letter to the EFL last week, opposing any postponement and warning that moving the final would unfairly punish supporters.

I’m pleased for Middlesbrough supporters, and I genuinely sympathise with Southampton fans - none of this is their fault either.

Simon Davies
Match of the Day Wales commentator

Image source, Getty Images

Wrexham forward Josh Windass has called for the Championship play-offs to be replayed with the Welsh club taking the place of Southampton.

Wrexham missed out on the play-offs by a single point on the final day of the season following a draw with Middlesbrough.

Windass says the play-offs should now be re-started.

"This story is one of the maddest I've seen. But why isn't the play-offs starting again with the 4 other teams?" he posted on social media.

"Boro v Hull would have been the semi! Confused."

Wrexham say they are monitoring the situation amid reports the Welsh club could launch legal action for compensation.

The club is awaiting the imminent release of the full written reasons from the EFL's independent disciplinary commission before exploring the possibility of a legal claim.

"We look forward to receiving the full details of the decision in due course," a club spokesperson said.

Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac have both posted images on social media mocking Southampton.

Southampton beat Wrexham 5-1 in a crucial game in the race for the play-offs in the final weeks of the regular season.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Southampton striker Charlie Austin said: "The players may never get the opportunity again to play in a play-off final for the Premier League, let alone play in the Premier League.

Speaking on Radio 5 Live, he said: "The goal [for players] is the Premier League.

"I just feel like the disappointment for everybody involved in Southampton from the supporters' level is inconceivable... it's unthinkable."