Championship Play-off Final Tickets On Sale Amid Uncertainty Over Saints' Spygate Hearing

Tickets for the Championship play-off final between Hull City and Southampton have gone on sale, despite uncertainty over whether the match will go ahead as planned due to Southampton’s pending hearing over the Spygate scandal.

The English Football League (EFL) has charged Southampton for observing Middlesbrough’s training session within the 72-hour window before their semi-final first leg, a breach of new rules introduced this season. An Independent Disciplinary Committee will hear the case on or before Tuesday, 19 May, with possible sanctions including a fine, points deduction, or even expulsion from the play-offs, though the EFL admits there’s currently no framework for such penalties.

Both Hull and Southampton have been allocated 35,984 tickets for the final, currently scheduled for 16:30 BST on Saturday, 23 May, at Wembley. However, the EFL warns the final could be delayed depending on the hearing’s outcome and any subsequent appeals.

Hull secured their final spot with a 2-0 win at Millwall, while Southampton progressed after defeating Middlesbrough 2-1 in extra time, courtesy of Shea Charles’s winner.

The uncertainty has drawn criticism from Hull supporters, who face difficulties planning travel and accommodation. BBC journalist and Hull fan Bobbi Huyton expressed frustration, stating supporters are being asked to “buy a ticket and take a gamble” on the match happening. The Hull City Official Supporters’ Club echoed these concerns, calling the situation “manifestly unfair” given the EFL’s delay in publishing sanctions for the rule breach.

The EFL’s handling of the situation has been questioned, particularly the lack of clear sanctions for spying, which only became an official rule this season.