Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleHull City owner Acun Ilicali confirmed he would take legal action if his team lost to Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final, following Middlesbrough's reinstatement to the competition. Ilicali believes Middlesbrough should not have been allowed back into the play-offs after Southampton's expulsion due to the 'Spygate' scandal, calling the decision “incredibly wrong” and stating his legal team supports this view. The play-off final is described as the 'richest game in football', with a place in the Premier League at stake and an estimated value of £200m to the winning team. EFL chairman Rick Parry dismissed the possibility of overturning the play-off final result, explaining that punishments in football are typically applied prospectively rather than retrospectively to avoid unravelling past season results. Southampton was expelled from the play-offs after admitting to spying on Middlesbrough's training sessions, as well as those of Oxford and Ipswich, though they maintained the punishment was disproportionate despite their apology. In fullHull City owner vows legal action if they lose play-off final amid Spygate scandalThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Hull City have seen a late change in opponent after Southampton were expelled from the play-off final after being found guilty of breaking rules in the Spygate scandal

Middlesbrough will play Saturday's final against Hull City, with a place in the Premier League on the line.

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or…

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or…

The Saints will start next season with a four-point deduction.

Saints chief executive Phil Parsons called penalty ‘manifestly disproportionate’

Southampton's expulsion from the Championship play-offs is confirmed after their appeal was rejected. Hull City will now face Middlesbrough in the final.

Respinto il ricorso del Southampton contro l'esclusione dalla finale dei play-off per l'accesso alla Premier League. Il club e accusato di spionaggio....

Middlesbrough will play Hull in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.

Southampton’s appeal was rejected on Wednesday, and it has now been confirmed Middlesbrough will face Hull in Saturday’s play-off final

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or…

Middlesbrough face Hull City in the Championship play‑off final at Wembley, but the Hull owner has revealed his legal team are exploring a route to automatic promotion to the top…

Middlesbrough will take on Hull City in this weekend’s Championship play-off final at Wembley after the EFL booted Southampton out after they were found guilty of spying

Southampton's appeal against their EFL punishment for the Spygate scandal has been unsuccessful, meaning Middlesbrough will now face Hull City in the play-off final – but the…

Analysing the decision to expel Southampton from the play-offs - and why the repercussions could be felt for years

Hull will now face Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final following Southampton’s expulsion for spying on opponents

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or…

Hull are set to face Middlesbrough in the play-off final following Southampton’s expulsion

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleHull City and Middlesbrough are set to…

The Championship play-off final has been surrounded with controversy from Spygate but since Southampton's expulsion and Middlesbrough reinstated earlier this week, this could be…