Overview
- Southampton advanced 2-1 on aggregate after extra time on Tuesday to book a May 23 final against Hull City, yet their place depends on a disciplinary decision.
- The EFL charged the club with breaches of Regulation 3.4 on good faith and Regulation 127, which forbids observing an opponent’s training within 72 hours of a match.
- The league asked an Independent Disciplinary Commission to cut the usual 14-day response window and schedule a hearing at the earliest opportunity.
- Southampton said it is cooperating with investigators and has begun an internal review, requesting time to complete it before offering a full account.
- Middlesbrough called for sporting penalties and hired sports lawyer Nick De Marco, with possible outcomes including expulsion from the play-offs that could reshape a final worth about £200m.