Hull to take legal action if they lose Championship play-off final

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Hull to take legal action if they lose play-off finalImage caption, Hull City owner Acun Ilicali is attending the Championship play-off finalByBen Ashton, Sport England and Matt Dean, Radio HumbersidePublished49 minutes agoHull City owner Acun Ilicali has vowed to take legal action if the Tigers do not win Saturday's Championship play-off final against Middlesbrough. Boro lost to Southampton in the semi-final - but were reinstated after Saints admitted to spying on the Teessiders' training session and were expelled from the competition. "Our legal team says that we have to go for action, that's for sure," Ilicali told Radio Humberside outside Wembley Stadium before kick-off in the final.

"So we have no doubt about it. Here, all we want is justice. If justice is broken, nobody will enjoy football.

The Details

"Ilicali described the decision to allow Middlesbrough to re-enter the play-offs as "unbelievable". He said: "If this action was so big that a team is out of the play-offs, why didn't they let them not play the semi-final, investigate and take Southampton out and put Wrexham in? "Why is Wrexham out now?

Put Wrexham in and continue the competition. "For me, an eliminated team {being] put back - also our lawyers say this and that's their opinion too - is an incredibly wrong decision. "The 56-year-old, who took over Hull City in 2022, said he did not want to discuss the outcome of the EFL's independent disciplinary commission's hearing before the day of the final to avoid distracting the players.

"Now I can talk a little more because now the boys are in the stadium and they will not hear me. I didn't want to make their focus disturbed," he added. "Decisions are discussable from what I understand from our lawyers, very discussable.

What Experts Say

"But of course we have to focus on the game and the boys are tough enough to overcome these difficulties. "Southampton's Eckert authorised spying missions Published1 day agoSouthampton expelled from play-offs for spying Published3 days agoFA opens Southampton investigation over Spygate Published1 day agoA complex caseImage source, PA MediaImage caption, Hull City are facing Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final on Saturday at WembleySouthampton were expelled from the play-offs on Tuesday and their appeal against the decision was rejected the following day - just 72 hours before kick-off in Saturday's showpiece event. Saints also admitted to spying on two other rivals' training sessions, including Oxford United in December and Ipswich Town last month.

The Football Associatoin has since opened an investigation of its own into Southampton over the Spygate scandal. The club accepted what happened was "wrong" and apologised to the other clubs involved, as well as Southampton's supporters.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.