Credit: Imago

Mark Smith

Wed 20 May 2026 10:10, UK

Leeds United are a natural comparison for Southampton after they were expelled from the Championship play-offs this week.

The Saints have been replaced by Middlesbrough in the play-off final on Saturday at Wembley, who will take on Hull for a spot in the Premier League.

After admitting to several breaches of spying on their opponents during the regular season and before their play-off semi-final against Boro, the EFL took drastic action.

A four-point deduction for next season was attached to the expulsion from the play-offs, but this is far from over, despite the game only being three days away.

Southampton have immediately appealed, and it looks as though Leeds will play a big role in that.

Leeds mentioned in Southampton appeal latest

Southampton lawyers have worked overnight on their appeal, given that it will be concluded on Wednesday by another independent panel.

The BBC’s Simon Stone has reported that the Saints believe the punishment is “exceptionally excessive” compared to Leeds’ £200,000 fine back in 2019.

It is said that club staff at St Mary’s have been told that there is confidence the decision will be overturned, despite many hailing the action taken.

New rules were brought into place after the drama surrounding Leeds, who did it once against Derby, yet Southampton still decided to do it multiple times and finally for a game with huge magnitude.

That’s the main difference.

Southampton can’t use Leeds United as main defence

Yes, Marcelo Bielsa admitted the offence, and Leeds were fined as a result, with nobody excusing that particular incident almost eight years ago.

Tonda Eckert will surely have known about the infamous spygate, so using so-called foreign tactics as an excuse will not sit well with the EFL.

Doing it multiple times across the season also doesn’t help the Saints, who clearly didn’t learn their lesson when trying to make it back to the Premier League.

With such a quick turnaround and the magnitude of the game and planning, it surely feels impossible that the decision will be overturned that simply, just 24 hours later.

Southampton may see their four-point deduction reduced or wiped out for next season, but it will surely be Middlesbrough that takes on Hull at Wembley now.

Leeds may be used in the appeal, but they won’t care one bit, with their Premier League spot already secured once again for next season.