A former City season-ticket holder who now lives in Australia could miss the play-off final if the game is moved
General view of Wembley Stadium(Image: Nigel Keene/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)
A Hull City supporter based in Australia has hit out at the EFL for having ‘no regard for fans’ after allowing the `Spygate’ drama to plunge the game into uncertainty.
Jack Gorbert, a former season-ticket holder at the MKM Stadium who has relocated to Australia, rushed to secure a flight to see the Tigers in the play-off final. Having spent around £2,000 to attend the Championship play-off final from his home in Australia, Mr Gorbert now faces the prospect of the game being moved and his trip being redundant.
The 27-year-old rushed to secure a flight home to see his side at Wembley following their win over Millwall earlier this month. With a price tag of almost £1,300 for the return journey, plus an additional £700 in other hotel and travels costs, the ongoing uncertainty has left Gorbert with a major expense and no guarantees that the fixture against Southampton will even go ahead as planned on May 23.
Saints have been charged with breaching the rules by monitoring a training session held by Middlesbrough ahead of their semi-final and there is now uncertainty over whether the showpiece will take place as scheduled.
The EFL issued a statement on Thursday to say an independent commission hearing would take place by Tuesday but, with the possibility of appeals, did warn that “disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture”. It has been criticised for not having a fixed sanction for `spying’ breaches.
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Gorbert, who attended Hull’s previous play-off final wins in 2008 and 2016, told the Press Association: “As soon as the final whistle went at Millwall I was looking for flights and I booked straight away.
“With the situation in the Middle East things are pretty volatile but there’s no way I was going to miss out. I’d probably sell a kidney if I had to.
“What’s happened is absolutely crazy. Without dropping expletives, all I can say is the EFL has no regard for the fans at all. I’ve spoken to another fan who is coming from Sydney, and someone else in Peru. But it’s not just that, it’s fans in Hull booking trains and hotels and disgraceful prices.
“I feel for the club, they couldn’t have done any more. I’m more angry at the EFL. I think they were trying to hide behind the fact that Middlesbrough could win and it would go away. But if you bring in a rule then you have to have a punishment.”
Although he accepts a free pass into the Premier League would be some compensation, Gorbert feels the sense of occasion attached to winning at the national stadium cannot be replaced.
“If we were going to go up on a technicality I wouldn’t say no to the Premier League but everyone wants that big day in the big smoke at Wembley,” he said.
“The feelgood factor is really back at this club and I think we’d take over Wembley this time around. I hope common sense prevails.” A statement issued by the EFL on Thursday clarified that it does not “control the proposed timetable” of the independent disciplinary commission.
It added: “The league recognises that this complex situation has caused concern and disruption for supporters, particularly those making travel arrangements, and will continue to provide as much clarity as possible.
“However, in these clearly exceptional circumstances, the league considers this to be the most appropriate course of action.”
The Hull City Official Supporters Club earlier registered its dissatisfaction, stating: “Given that this is a situation which has largely resulted from the EFL’s own error in failing to publish the sanctions for a breach of the rule regarding `spying’ on opposition teams we feel this is manifestly unfair.”
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