Southampton’s aspirations for promotion to the Premier League have been abruptly ended after the club was expelled from the Championship play-offs following sanctions for spying offences, a decision winger Leo Scienza described as “heartbreaking”.
The ruling not only denies Saints a shot at an estimated £200 million in promotion revenue but also includes a four-point deduction for next season.
The dramatic turn of events means Middlesbrough will now face Hull in Saturday’s final at Wembley.
Southampton had admitted to three spying charges, including observing a Middlesbrough training session, ahead of their 2-1 aggregate victory in the play-off semi-finals, a result that has now been overturned. An independent commission reinstated Middlesbrough on Tuesday, with Saints’ appeal dismissed on Wednesday.
Scienza, who was named the Saints’ player of the year, took to Instagram to give his reaction to the ruling.
“Disappointment, anger, sadness…It’s difficult to find the right words for what we’re all feeling right now,” he wrote. “What has happened over the last days is heartbreaking..for the club, for every player in this dressing room, and above all for our supporters. A moment like this should never end the way it did.”
The Brazilian, who contributed seven goals and 10 assists in 44 appearances, extended his sympathy to others caught in the fallout.
“I feel sorry for every football fan, as well as the players and supporters of Hull and Boro, who were caught up in all of this chaos too,” Scienza added. “For me, the dream of playing in the Premier League was something I fought for with everything I had. That’s why this pain cuts so deep.”
He particularly highlighted the impact on the club’s loyal fanbase.
“The hardest part is knowing how much our fans deserved this moment. You stood behind us all season with incredible passion, loyalty and belief. Even in the toughest moments, you carried us forward. Thank you for staying with us through everything, you definitely deserved better.”
Southampton chief executive Phil Parsons criticised the punishment as “manifestly disproportionate” compared to any other sanction in English football history. The club had already sold over 37,000 tickets for the Wembley final.
Club legend Matt Le Tissier urged the Saints to “focus on restoring our reputation,” acknowledging there is “a lot of work to be done” in the wake of the ‘Spygate’ scandal.
