Southampton kicked out of Championship playoff final and docked four points for spying

Southampton have been thrown out of the play-offs after admitting they spied on three clubs in the Championship season. Middlesbrough, beaten by Southampton in the semi-final, have been reinstated and will now play Hull City for a place in the Premier League. The EFL charged Saints with watching training sessions involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town, in addition to filming Middlesbrough as they prepared for the first leg of their play-off semi-final on 7 May.

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Chelsea appoint Xabi Alonso as new manager

Xabi Alonso’s appointment as Chelsea manager has been confirmed on a four-year deal. The former Real Madrid boss will take charge of the Blues from 1 July in what is his first managerial role in the Premier League. Callum McFarlane has been in interim charge since the sacking of Liam Rosenior last month and was on the touchline for Chelsea’s FA Cup final loss to Manchester City on Saturday.

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Sensational Semenyo secures FA Cup crown for Manchester City

Antoine Semenyo produced a moment of individual genius to settle a bitterly disappointing FA Cup final as Manchester City beat Chelsea at Wembley. The showpiece had largely been a dismal non-event until Semenyo broke the deadlock brilliantly with 18 minutes left. Erling Haaland, had worked tirelessly with little service, but it was his cross that Semenyo met on the run with a perfect right-foot flick across Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez.

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Tottenham held by Leeds as relegation battle continues

Tottenham forward Mathys Tel went from hero to zero after he gave away a reckless penalty following his opener in a 1-1 draw with Leeds to leave his team mired in relegation trouble. Arsenal’s controversial 1-0 victory at 18th-placed West Ham on Sunday provided a pre-match boost for both clubs and Spurs were set to go four points clear of the relegation zone when Tel produced a wonderful 50th-minute opener.

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Barcelona clinch La Liga title with El Clásico win over Madrid

Marcus Rashford scored a brilliant free-kick as Barcelona clinched back-to-back La Liga titles with a 2-0 win over arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou. Both goals came in the opening 18 minutes as Rashford’s stunning curling effort in the ninth minute was quickly followed by a second from Ferran Torres.

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