Southampton's appeal against being thrown out of the Championship play-off final for spying has been rejected.
The match will now go ahead on Saturday between Hull City. Middlesbrough (15:30 BST kick-off), with a place in the Premier League on the line.
Earlier on Wednesday. Saints issued a statement criticising what they called a punishment "manifestly disproportionate to every previous sanction in the history of the English game".
An EFL independent disciplinary commission on Tuesday eveningexpelled Southampton from the play-offsand reinstated Middlesbrough. who had lost to the Saints 2-1 on aggregate.
The St Mary's club were also deducted four points in the Championship next season after admitting breaches of two EFL regulations.
Their appeal was rejected by an EFL independent league arbitration panel. There is no further right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Hull are unhappy they will have to face different opponents at short notice. with owner Acun Ilicali suggesting the club could take legal action if they lose the final.
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