The outbreak has resulted in 160 suspected deaths out of 670 suspected cases, of which 61 have been confirmed, according to DRC health ministry data published on Thursday. Two Ebola cases have also been confirmed in neighbouring Uganda. and now the disease is spreading to rebel-held areas of the DRC, the latest figures show. The World Health Organisation, which has declared a public health emergency of international concern, said the outbreak is almost certainly much larger and has also expressed concern over the speed of the spread. In the town of Rwampara, ‌one of the outbreak's hotspots in Ituri, clashes broke out on Thursday after the family of an Ebola victim disputed that the disease had killed him and demanded his body is handed over to them. Witnesses told the Reuters news agency that protesters gathered outside the hospital and set fire to tents run by a medical charity, prompting police to fire warning shots and tear ‌gas. Meanwhile, a confirmed case has been reported hundreds of miles from the epicentre, in a rebel-held area of the country. It signals a further spread of the disease, which experts believe has been circulating undetected for around two months in the epicentre, Ituri province. That is hundreds ‌of miles away from the site of a new death, reported on Thursday, of a 28-year-old patient in South Kivu province - a rural area near the provincial capital, Bukavu. Details were released by The Alliance Fleuve Congo, a rebel group which includes the Rwanda-backed M23 fighters who seized swathes of eastern DRC last year. Local health officials confirmed two suspected cases had been detected in the province, including the fatal case. An Ebola case was also confirmed last week in Goma, capital of neighbouring North Kivu province, which is under M23 control. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Jane Halton, chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), said the confirmed cases announced to date likely represent ⁠only "the top of the iceberg". CEPI, which funds vaccine development, is assessing potential candidates for Ebola. UK offers £20m funding Also, there is no available vaccine or medicine for the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the outbreak. An expert said this week it would be at least six to nine months before one would be available. Health workers and aid groups have also said they are in dire need of more supplies and staff to respond. On Thursday, Britain said it was allocating up to £20⁠m to the response, through support for frontline health workers, improved infection control and disease surveillance. The US has so far committed £17.1m ($23m) and said it would help open up to 50 clinics in DRC and Uganda. Read more from Sky News:Why you should care about outbreakProtests over Congolese man's deathRubio: Signs of US-Iran deal to end war Travel restrictions tightened Neighbouring Uganda has confirmed it is suspending all public passenger ​transport with DRC for the next four weeks, excluding ⁠trucks carrying food and goods. The US Department of Homeland Security has also announced enhanced screening for certain Americans who have visited Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days. From Thursday, they will be redirected to Washington Dulles International Airport to undergo extra checks. There are already restrictions banning other travellers from those three countries. On Wednesday, an Air France flight from Paris to Detroit ‌was ordered to be diverted to Montreal after a passenger from the DRC boarded "in error", Customs and Border Protection said.

Lola Young, Rosalia, Kano, Calvin Harris, Thom Yorke and Linda Perry were also among the 2026 winners. Following the huge success of her 2025 comeback West End Girl, Allen was awarded the outstanding song collection prize for "one of the most distinctive and impressive catalogues in British music across the last two decades". Irish singer-songwriter CMAT's Euro-Country was named best album, earning the star her first Ivor Novello trophy. Judges praised the record's "honesty, originality, and particularly highlighted its ability to balance personal songwriting alongside political and cultural themes". Fresh from winning last year's Mercury Prize, Fender, described as "one of the UK's most important songwriters", was named songwriter of the year. Scottish folk singer-songwriter Jacob Alon, whose debut album In Limerence was also shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, built on that success with two Ivors - the rising star award, and the prize for best song musically and lyrically, for Don't Fall Asleep. Elsewhere, Young's mega hit Messy won the PRS for Music most performed work award, which celebrates songs that received the most broadcast, online and general performances in the last year, and Kae Tempest and Fraser T Smith picked up the prize for best contemporary song, for I Stand On The Line. "I've received so much from songs, and to be able to contribute to an art form that I've received so much from - it's my life's greatest joy," Tempest told Sky News ahead of the ceremony. "It feeds so much of my creative appetite. I work in lots of different forms, but this particular form is my first love." A poignant moment in the show came when George Michael was inducted into the fellowship of The Ivors Academy, nine years after his death, following in the footsteps of artists including Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Bruce Springsteen and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The award was accepted on his behalf by his former Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley and lifelong friend Chris Organ. Michael, the creative force behind classics such as Careless Whisper, Faith, and Freedom!, remains the only solo songwriter to have won the Ivors' songwriter of the year prize three times. Widely regarded as one of Britain's most influential songwriters, the fellowship celebrates his "excellence and impact in the art and craft of music creation, and his enduring influence worldwide", the Academy said. Thom Yorke, described as "one of the defining songwriters of his generation", was also inducted into the fellowship, honoured for his "extraordinary craft in music creation with Radiohead and across his solo career". It was also announced that Elton John will become the Ivors' first ever president. The legendary singer-songwriter received an Ivors Academy honour, in recognition of his work championing other songwriters and composers. Here is the full list of winners. BEST ALBUMEuro-Country - written and performed by CMAT BEST CONTEMPORARY SONGI Stand On The Line - written by Fraser T Smith and Kae Tempest, performed by Kae Tempest BEST SONG MUSICALLY AND LYRICALLYDon't Fall Asleep - written and performed by Jacob Alon PRS FOR MUSIC MOST PERFORMED WORKMessy - written and performed by Lola Young RISING STARJacob Alon BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORETestimony - composed by Tom Hodge BEST TV SOUNDTRACKTrespasses - composed by David Holmes and Brian Irvine VISIONARY AWARDKano OUTSTANDING SONG COLLECTIONLily Allen SONGWRITER OF THE YEARSam Fender ICON AWARDCalvin Harris IVORS FELLOWSHIPGeorge Michael INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITER OF THE YEARRosalia SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL AWARDLinda Perry

Like Rishi Sunak's state-funded discounts deployed in the first summer of the COVID pandemic, these measures are aimed squarely at families thinking twice about going out, and a hospitality industry desperate to receive them. This time, the reluctance is caused by a cost-of-living squeeze rather than a deadly virus, but the principle is the same. Use a little taxpayer money to ease the financial burden and perhaps lubricate local economies while you are at it. The Chancellor denies it is a gimmick at a hugely fraught political moment for her and Sir Keir Starmer, telling Sky News she supported the prime minister continuing in office, but appeared to stop short of giving unequivocal backing to him. She also insisted she will deliver the next Budget and reeled off the recent positive economic data - rising GDP, falling inflation - to support her case, a message that will not have been missed by Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting. Febrile politics aside, her desire to help families is doubtless sincerely meant, but GBSS, as no one will be calling it, comes with a hefty price tag - around £700m once you add in the easing of tariffs on more than 100 food imports. The branding for the scheme, channelling a 1950's seaside aesthetic, proudly proclaims it as "funded by the UK government", but the total bill to taxpayers does not stop there. Read more on Sky News:Supermarkets 'encouraged to cap prices'Tax-free mileage boost - Money latest Wrap in a £600m freeze to fuel duty and a holiday for road taxes on HGVs, £500m in long-awaited support for the chemicals and ceramics sectors - both industries long hobbled by facing the highest energy costs in Europe - and the total commitment runs to £1.6bn over six years. The Treasury says this will require no new borrowing. Instead, it will be covered by closing a tax loophole allowing UK-based multinationals to write off corporation tax on losses made overseas, a move that squarely targets the oil and gas industry. Add this new tax-raising measure to the spending package and this was a "happy meal" fiscal event - a cheerful, cheap-ish moment of Treasury largesse before the realities of the Iran war energy shock bite in the autumn.

Arteta has guided Arsenal to their first top-flight title in 22 years, with the Gunners clinching it on Tuesday night after second-placed Manchester City could only draw with Bournemouth. In April, Arsenal showed some cracks after defeats to Bournemouth and City let Pep Guardiola's side back into the title race. But the Gunners recovered afterwards to deliver the title - and could add to it by winning the Champions League final in Budapest next week. 10 moments that won the title5am trip to the Emirates! How the players celebratedYour views on Arsenal's title win "Yes, we won the league," Arteta said in a press conference on Thursday. "But the most proud I've been is how we've won it. "We showed very important values not only in sport, but in life. Perseverance, to be resilient, to be composed in moments when people are doubting. And to be vulnerable. "I've asked that question to myself: am I good enough to lead these players to win a major trophy? Until you do it, you cannot validate yourself. "The big lesson here is stay humble, stay curious and focus on the point and you want to achieve. If you give your best, you give yourself a good chance. We've given ourselves a good chance for three years. This season, we've done it. "Now you want more. We have the biggest one to play in Budapest in a few days. It's been extremely rewarding. We know we've gone step by step. When we haven't reached it, because sometimes someone else is better, they have better resources and be humble there. "But you have to say: I'm not going to stop, improve and reinvent myself. That's going to be a theme in this season. If we haven't done enough, there are things to do to make that step. We've been very creative in our process to achieve that." What were the key moments in Arsenal's season? Arteta was asked for his most difficult and standout moments of the season in his press conference. "There have been so many moments," he replied. "I need a bit more time to reflect on that. We have so much footage that probably will explain a bit the story of the season. "The start [of the season] was tough. When you build the club, the team into a zone where the only thing left is to win it and the margin is so small, especially with our competitors - can the team handle the pressure from the beginning? "Because we remember the conversations we had in September and October in the press conferences. 'If you don't win, the league is over' and there are still eight or nine months to play. "To play with that on your back constantly is not easy. That has been one of the toughest moments." However, the most important part of the season - according to the Arsenal manager - came in the same period. Before Arsenal played their first Premier League game of the season against Manchester United in August, Arteta gathered his players for a meeting - without any other members of staff. They gathered around a tree - put up by Arteta - in the training ground to symbolise the growth of the club. "One of the main ones was a meeting we had here, at the training ground] next to the tree, when I got all the players together," said the Spaniard. "And told them: 'Look at each other and the squad we've built over the summer. We are capable of everything and can be very, very good but that depends on us and behaviours - everybody understanding the roles they were going to have daily, to give the best for the team.' "Once they realised that, we went to a different level. You've seen the impact that everyone has, during different moments in games through the season. And the capacity we have shown to deal with very, very tough circumstances throughout the season. "Normally we have a lot of meetings and staff there, but it was the players and myself. And we talked about the role. What is my role and how I feel about them, and every decision I'm going to make is going to impact their lives in a positive way. Any decision I make is because it's my job to make it, so don't take it personally." Arteta: I didn't watch Bournemouth vs Man City! Arteta admitted he did not watch Man City's draw with Bournemouth, which sealed Arsenal's title - as he was barbecuing at the time! The Arsenal manager was not with the players, who all grouped together with staff at the training ground to watch the match. Arteta did join the players out in central London in the early hours of Wednesday morning - but the Arsenal manager has no regrets about going home and leaving the players for the crucial moment in their season. "It's one of the best feelings I ever had," said Arteta about City's draw with Bournemouth. "I was supposed to be here at Colney with the players, and certain staff, because that's what they wanted. But I couldn't. Twenty minutes before the game, I had to leave. I couldn't bring the energy that I wanted. "It was their moment to be together, watch it themselves and just see what the outcome would be. "I went home, went outside to the garden, started to build some fire and started to do some barbecue. I didn't watch any of it. I was just hearing noises in the background and the living room, then the magic happened. "My oldest son opened the garden door, ran towards me, started to cry, gave me a hug and said 'We're champions Daddy.' My other two boys and my wife came over and it was beautiful to see the joy on them, they are always with me. "It was magical. A minute later, Martin Odegaard was with the video: 'Where are you? Come over.' "I said: 'Enjoy it. See you in a few hours, somewhere in London.'" At the same time, tens of thousands of supporters gathered instinctively at the Emirates Stadium in emphatic scenes in London. Arteta believes the chemistry the fans have created about the team is better than winning the Premier League trophy - and even used a 'bottle' metaphor to describe it. "It was an emotional explosion," Arteta said. "Everybody has been keeping emotions, but not being able to really express them. "So when we opened that bottle, everyone had so much to release, it's been incredible to witness. "So far what they have created around the club and team, it's incredible to witness. That chemistry, connection, passion is something beautiful. "The trophy is great, but this is something, in my mind, even bigger."

The US secretary of state added that while the talks are progressing - with Pakistani representatives travelling to Iran on Thursday - Washington is dealing with "a system that itself is a little fractured". Mr Rubio added that any diplomatic deal would be "unfeasible" if Iran imposes a toll on the Strait of Hormuz. "No one in ​the world is in favour of the tolling system," he said. "It can't happen. ​It would be unacceptable. "⁠It would make ⁠a diplomatic deal unfeasible if they were to continue ‌to pursue that. So it's a threat to the world if they were ‌trying to do that, and it's completely illegal." Mr Rubio was speaking to reporters in Florida on Thursday as he boarded a flight to Sweden, where he will meet with NATO foreign ministers. The Strait of Hormuz, which is a conduit for one-fifth of global oil exports, has effectively been blocked by Tehran since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on 28 February. The stand-off escalated last month when the US began blocking Iranian ports. Iran has claimed sovereignty over the strait, saying it will only fully reopen the waterway if it gets to charge commercial vessels tolls for passing through. The disruption has had a wide impact on global economies, sending energy prices soaring and hitting government borrowing. 👉 Follow Trump100 on your podcast app 👈 A shaky US-Iran ceasefire has been in place since early April, but both the Trump administration and Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened to resume attacks. Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post earlier this week that he had told the US military "to be prepared to go forward with a full, large-scale assault of Iran, on a moment's notice" if a deal isn't reached. The US president echoed his previous comments as he spoke at the White House on Thursday, telling reporters he will "have to do something very drastic" if Iran refuses to guarantee it will not acquire a nuclear weapon. Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened that it would "extend the war beyond the region" if the US attacks Iran again.

Two women anonymously alleged they were raped by their on-screen husbands when they appeared on the Channel 4 show, and former participant Shona Manderson accused her on-screen partner of sexual misconduct, while speaking in a BBC Panorama documentary. All three men deny the allegations against them. In a statement a spokesperson for Tui UK and Ireland said: "Following the broadcast of the Panorama programme and discussion with Channel 4, we have taken the decision to end our sponsorship of Married At First Sight." The spokesperson confirmed the travel operator had paused its sponsorship of the UK and Australian versions of the show after the accusations featured in the Panorama episode on Monday. Last month, Channel 4 launched a review into contributor welfare shortly after being contacted by the BBC about the accusations featured in the Panorama episode. Channel 4's chief executive, Priya Dogra, has said reports the show had been cancelled are "wholly inaccurate" and "no decision has been made" regarding the broadcast of the next series. New episodes of MAFS UK have been "substantially filmed" and are currently being edited, Channel 4's chief content officer Ian Katz has said. Read more from Sky News:NHS staff accessed attack victims dataRecord-breaking bank holiday temps On Wednesday, MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee wrote to Channel 4 and Ofcom about their response to allegations raised in the BBC documentary. Committee chairwoman Dame Caroline Dinenage called the accusations "horrifying" and added: "Both Channel 4 and Ofcom, as the broadcasting regulator, have urgent questions to answer." The letter to Channel 4 also asked about its complaints process for contestants on the programme, as well as the steps being taken to ensure the allegations were fully investigated, along with the review announced by the broadcaster. It also asks the broadcaster about its approach to duty of care to participants on its other reality TV programmes. On Tuesday, the government said there must be "consequences for criminality or wrongdoing" following the MAFS allegations. The Metropolitan Police urged potential victims of sexual assault on the TV show to get in touch.

In April last year, the Supreme Court ruled the definition of "woman" and "sex" in the 2010 Act refers to "a biological woman and biological sex". The government says the new, draft code provides guidance to make the law clearer for service providers and others, "protecting people's rights across England, Scotland, and Wales". It sets out when ⁠organisations can lawfully exclude transgender people ‌from women-only and men-only spaces - including toilets, changing ‌rooms, hospital wards, refuges and sports. Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson said the ruling had "made it clear that sex means biological sex" under the Equality Act, "and that trans people are still protected by the Act". Rosie Duffield, who became an independent MP for Canterbury when she quit Labour amid a row over trans rights in September 2024, has welcomed the guidance - while arguing the year-long wait has been "damaging" for organisations and individuals. Single-sex spaces could include settings such as gyms, swimming pools, changing rooms, toilets, hospital wards or domestic abuse refuges. Speaking to Sky News, Ms Duffield said the guidance will make it "easier going forward", but criticised the year-long wait. "I think it has been damaging to organisations, schools, government departments and people who've just been waiting," she said. "But also to people on either side of the fence here, women's rights organisations and trans rights groups. "Because no one's had that clarity written down, although we all knew what the law said." Read more:What's changed since court ruling?Trans girls told to leave Guides It is the first time since 2011 that the code - which covers services, public functions and associations for nine protected characteristics including age, sex, race and gender reassignment - has been updated in full. The 340-page document will face parliamentary scrutiny before being implemented.

As a result, Hull City will take on Middlesbrough in Saturday's play-off final, with the Wembley showpiece kicking off at 3.30pm. On Tuesday evening, Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-offs, with Middlesbrough reinstated, after a member of the Saints' backroom staff was caught watching Boro's training ahead of the first leg of their play-off semi-final. How Spygate incident unfolded | EFL & 'Spygate' latestSouthampton expelled from Championship play-offs According to the EFL, Southampton admitted "multiple breaches" relating to the unauthorised filming of their opponents' training ahead of games against Oxford and Ipswich, as well as the clash with Middlesbrough. In addition to their expulsion from Saturday's final, Southampton were handed a four-point deduction for next season. Reacting to their expulsion, Southampton called the ruling "manifestly disproportionate" to the offence. The Saints appealed the ruling, but it was dismissed on Wednesday night with no further opportunity of appeal. An EFL statement read: "A League Arbitration Panel has today dismissed Southampton Football Club's appeal against the Independent Disciplinary Commission's decision in respect of breaches of EFL Regulations. "As a result, the original sanction remains in force. Southampton's expulsion from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs stands, alongside the four-point deduction to be applied to the Club's 2026/27 Championship record and the reprimand in respect of all charges. "In accordance with EFL Regulations, the decision of the League Arbitration Panel is final. Following the conclusion of the proceedings, the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final between Hull City and Middlesbrough is confirmed as taking place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 23 May, kicking off at 3.30pm." Southampton vow to respond with 'humility' after 'disappointing' appeal outcome Shortly after the announcement, Southampton released a statement saying it was an 'extremely disappointing outcome', while also acknowledging it was a painful moment for the club and they would be determined to 'put things right'. It read: "Southampton Football Club has this evening been informed that the EFL's League Arbitration Panel has upheld the sanctions imposed earlier this week. As a result, the club will not participate in Saturday's Championship Play-Off Final. "This is an extremely disappointing outcome for everybody connected with Southampton Football Club. We know how painful this moment will be for our supporters, players, staff, commercial partners and the wider community who have given so much backing to the team throughout the season and we apologise once again to everyone impacted by this. "While we fully acknowledge the seriousness of this matter and the scrutiny that has followed, the club has consistently believed the original sporting sanction was disproportionate, a view that has been widely shared by many in the football community over the last 24 hours. "We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to our supporters for the support, patience and loyalty they have shown throughout an incredibly difficult period. We will share information as soon as possible in relation to ticket refunds for those who bought tickets to Wembley. "Southampton Football Club has a proud history and strong foundations, but it is clear that trust now needs to be rebuilt. That work begins immediately. The club will reflect carefully on the events that have led to this point, learn from them and take the necessary steps to move forward responsibly. "While tonight is a painful moment, this football club will respond with humility, accountability and determination to put things right." Scienza: Fans deserved better after 'heartbreaking' few days Southampton forward Leo Scienza says fans deserve better, expressing his disappointment in the appeal verdict in a statement posted on Instagram. "It's difficult to find the right words for what we're all feeling right now."What has happened over the last few 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."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."We gave everything for this dream. Day after day, sacrifice after sacrifice, always believing we could bring this club back to where it belongs. 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."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." Why can't Southampton appeal further? According to EFL rules that all clubs agree to, Southampton can no longer take the issue further and appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)... RULE 104: CHALLENGING THE AWARD 104.1 Subject to the provisions of Sections 67 and 68 of the Arbitration Act, the award, shall be final and binding and there shall be no right of appeal or further arbitration and the parties exclude irrevocably any right to any other form of appeal, review or recourse in or by a court, judicial authority or other arbitral body, in so far as such waiver may validly be made. 'We now have clarity on final... but there could be further consequences down the road' Sky Sports News' chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol: "Southampton's lawyers did their best to argue their case in front of this new league arbitration panel, which was effectively an appeal panel. They would have said that the punishment is far too severe. "They would have cited incidents in the past where a team has been deducted six points for spying, or Leeds United were fined £200,000, but now we know that the appeal panel decided to stick with the initial decision that the disciplinary commission came up with yesterday, which is that the punishment is proportionate. "Now I know a lot of people in football, ex-players, managers, supporters are looking at this and saying, 'Wow, this is a big, big punishment for something that can be viewed as being not that big in the grand scheme of things.' "However, two panels now, the disciplinary commission and the appeal panel, have disagreed with what people have been saying and said, 'No, this is very, very serious. Southampton have to be expelled from the play-offs'. "We will get more clarity when the full written reasons are released, not just of the commission yesterday, but also of the appeal. "Everybody will be able to go through it. It will be available on the EFL website as well. You can read through it, see all the evidence, and make up your mind. "But finally, three days before the play-off final, we now have absolute clarity that it will be Hull City vs Middlesbrough, and not Southampton, at Wembley on Saturday. And Southampton, unfortunately, because of this spying scandal, which they have admitted to potentially going to cost them a place in the Premier League, and £200m, and there could be further consequences down the road. "The EFL don't have the power to charge or punish individuals, but the Football Association does, and they can use that power once the EFL process has ended." 'The nightmare continues for Southampton fans' Sky Sports News reporter Mark McAdam: "The nightmare continues for Southampton fans. They won't be at Wembley on Saturday and that their season is now over. You do feel for Southampton. You speak to other players and managers, other people connected to the game, and they say this is very, very strict. This is very unfair. And it doesn't quite feel like the punishment fits the crime. And exactly what Southampton's defence was in that appeal. "Southampton's season is now over and attention immediately turns to next season. Southampton are going to be in the Championship, starting on -4 points. So already the hard work needs to begin. They'll be planning preseason tours. They'll be doing all the things that need to be done to prepare themselves for a brand new campaign. So ultimately, the work will continue in the training ground. "What will happen for the players now, who are probably just desperate to get away, spend some time with their families, relax, recharge, rest, and just try and compute exactly what's happened? Because ultimately, the riches that come with getting promoted to the Premier League have disappeared. "That dream of playing at the top flight has now gone. So they will be hurting, and they will be frustrated, and they will be angry with what's happened. And they will then have to start their process to look forward and move on right now from this moment onwards." Spygate timeline: How did we get here? May 7: Middlesbrough make formal complaint to the EFL alleging a Southampton member of staff spied on their training session three days before their Championship play-off semi-final first leg. May 9: Boro boss Kim Hellberg accuses Southampton of cheating after the first leg ends in a 0-0 draw at the Riverside Stadium. May 12: Southampton charged with a breach of EFL regulations in relation to the spying accusations. Southampton request additional time to conduct an internal review. The play-off semi-final second leg is played at St Mary's. Shea Charles' extra-time winner earns Southampton a 2-1 victory and a place in the Championship play-off final. Emotional Hellberg hits out at "disgraceful spying", before Saints boss Tonda Eckert storms out of his press conference after being asked: "Are you a cheat?" May 13: Photos allegedly showing the Southampton analyst near Middlesbrough's training ground released publicly. May 14: It is announced the independent hearing to determine Southampton's fate will take place on or before Tuesday May 19. In a statement, the EFL say "the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture." May 15: Middlesbrough publicly call for Southampton's expulsion from the play-offs. In a statement, they said: "In these circumstances, the only appropriate response is a sporting sanction which would prevent Southampton FC from participating in the EFL Championship play-off final." May 18: Middlesbrough players return to training as the outcome of the independent disciplinary hearing nears. May 19: EFL announces Southampton expelled from play-off final after hearing. May 20: Southampton appeal hearing verdict but it's dismissed. May 21: FA launch investigation into Southampton