'Manifestly Disproportionate': Southampton Executive Reacts To Championship Playoff Expulsion

Southampton heads into its appeal against expulsion from the Championship playoff final believing its punishment is "manifestly disproportionate" to any previous sanction in English soccer history.

The south-coast team admitted to repeatedly spying on opponents this season — including Middlesbrough ahead of the playoff semifinals — and was removed from this Saturday's match against Hull when a place in the Premier League was up for grabs.

Instead, the English Football League handed...