Hull City and Middlesbrough to contest unique Championship play-off final following Southampton expulsion
Independent commission finds manager Tonda Eckert authorised opponent observations, reinstating Middlesbrough to face Hull for Premier League promotion
Hull City and Middlesbrough are set to contest the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday evening, following the expulsion of Southampton from the competition. The fixture is unique in the 40-year history of the play-offs, as the pre-match narrative has been entirely overshadowed by the removal of a team not involved in the final. Southampton had originally defeated Middlesbrough in the semi-finals but were removed after an independent commission ruled that manager Tonda Eckert had specifically authorised observations of opponents.
The reinstatement of Middlesbrough, who had lost the semi-final aggregate score, comes after an unsuccessful appeal by the Saints. The independent disciplinary process concluded that the conduct breached sporting integrity, leading to the final decision that Middlesbrough would take Southampton’s place. Hull City, who defeated Millwall in their semi-final, will now play for promotion to the Premier League, a goal they have achieved in their previous two play-off final appearances in 2008 and 2016.
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic described his side as "collateral damage" due to the uncertainty surrounding the opponent. Speaking to BBC Radio Humberside, Jakirovic stated that the last two weeks had been unfair, noting that his team was waiting for an opponent while dealing with the fallout of the spying scandal. The Tigers, who survived relegation to League One last May before securing promotion, have been a surprise package this season, finishing seventh before climbing back into the play-off spots on the final day.
Middlesbrough’s path to Wembley has been equally dramatic, marked by a rollercoaster season that saw them appoint a new boss, Rob Edwards, only for him to leave for Wolves three months into the tenure. Swede Kim Hellberg took over and steered the club to the top of the Championship by February, but a loss of form in the run-in saw them finish fifth. This marks the first meeting in a play-off final between teams who finished fifth and sixth since Aston Villa beat Derby County in 2019.
Key personnel changes will impact both sides ahead of the match. Middlesbrough captain Hayden Hackney is set to return after over two months out with a groin injury, but forward Tommy Conway has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Hull City forward Kyle Joseph is unavailable due to an injury sustained in the semi-final win at Millwall. Both teams are in poor recent form, with Hull having won only two of their past nine matches and Middlesbrough managing only two victories in their past 12 games.
Middlesbrough have never won a match at Wembley, adding to the pressure of the fixture. The outcome will determine which of the two sides returns to the Premier League, with Hull seeking a third promotion and Middlesbrough aiming to end their nine-year absence from the top flight. The final is scheduled for Saturday evening at Wembley, with the institutional ruling on Southampton’s conduct likely to have further fallout in the coming weeks.
