In an unprecedented situation, Southampton have been kicked out of the EFL Championship playoffs after breaking the EFL’s rules over watching another team train within 72 hours of a fixture. The Saints admitted to breaking this rule three times during the season, including before their first leg semi-final match against Middlesborough. After the EFL initially ruled to expel Southampton from the playoffs, alongside a four points deduction next season, the Championship side appealed, but to no avail with the punishment of expulsion remaining, alongside next season’s points deduction. The decision means Middlesborough will face Hull City on Saturday 23rd May at 15:30 BST for a spot in the Premier League. However, one forgotten party in this is the Tigers, and when they are taken into account, a whole new can of worms is opened.
No matter the outcome of the ‘spygate’ decision, Hull knew they would be in the playoff final, having defeated Millwall 2-0 over two legs in their semi-final. Having initially thought they would face Southampton at Wembley, after the Saints’ 2-1 win over Middlesborough after extra time at St Mary’s on May 12th, Sergej Jakirovic’s side now have to prepare for a different side with the final just days away. Of course, given Hull were the only team in this saga to earn their place in the final the traditional way, by winning legitimately over two legs, this meant that both Southampton and Middlesborough knew who they had to prepare for. So, despite being knocked out of the playoffs, Middlesborough have gained a significant advantage on their opponents, despite Hull not being involved in the drama whatsoever.
However, Hull’s absence from the drama is about to change. Recent reports have said that they are taking legal advice over whether they have a case to be promoted straight to the Premier League. While it may seem dramatic, they are the only team to rightfully earn their place in the final. Along with that, the preparation for these matches cannot be underestimated. One of the main reasons Hull are in this final is the tactical tweak from Jakirovic in the second leg against Millwall, opting for five at the back, a complete change in system which left Alex Neil and his Millwall side lost for ideas on the pitch apart from a brief spell. There is no doubt that Jakirovic had some sort of system ready specifically for Southampton, and while some may argue that Hull could have prepared for both teams, it seems unfair they would have to do so, and therefore halve their prep time, up until three days before the final, when either opponent had to prepare for just one team, the only team that has made their way to Wembley legitimately.
The final will almost certainly go ahead. This isn’t just the biggest game on the EFL’s calendar, it is widely recognised as the richest game in all of football, with the winner expected to gain at least £200 million in extra income given the magnitude of the Premier League. There is simply no way the EFL doesn’t allow their showpiece to go ahead. However, if you consider the fact that this is Hull’s first real shot at promotion since they were relegated from the top division in 2017, therefore making this their biggest game in a decade, after they defeated Sheffield Wednesday in this fixture in May 2016, and it is easy to understand why owner Acun Ilicali is seeking legal action. With all of that taken into account, it is obvious who the EFL will be rooting for on Saturday. If Hull win, all these problems go away and a legitimate promotion is earned. If Middlesborough, the favourites, are victorious, then this saga is far from over.