Hull City will take on Middlesbrough in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium after Southampton were expelled from the competition.
Hull will take on Middlesbrough at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire.)
Hull City will take on Middlesbrough in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium at 3.30pm on Saturday, May 23, it has been confirmed. The Tigers will take on Boro following Southampton’s expulsion from the competition.
The Saints were punished amid the Spygate situation, where they admitted to secretly filming Middlesbrough’s training session ahead of the play-off semi-final, which is against the rules. Southampton are appealing the decision, and if they are successful, then the kick-off in the final will be changed again to 4.30pm.
Southampton beat Boro in their play-off semi-final, a 0-0 draw in the first leg was followed by a 2-1 win for Saints in extra-time of the second leg. Preparations for a trip to Wembley had already begun, with the club selling out their allocation of tickets before the verdict was given.
However, the hearing has seen them expelled and replaced by Middlesbrough. Southampton will also be docked four points at the start of next season.
For Hull, concentration will now be on overcoming Kim Hellberg’s side. Confirming the details for the final, a statement from the EFL read: “Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final between Hull City and Middlesbrough will kick-off at 15:30.
“Should the outcome of the ongoing appeal process result in the Final being contested by Hull City and Southampton, the kick-off time for the fixture will remain at 16:30.”
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