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Spygate 'ruins mood' as Hull City fans queue for play-off tickets

Tickets for Hull City's Championship play-off final against Southampton have gone on sale, but fans say the row over the spygate scandal has "ruined the mood". The Tigers are set to be cheered on at Wembley by 35,984 supporters on Saturday, 23 May, with hopes of reaching the Premier League. But the sale has surrounded by uncertainty after the English Football League (EFL) said the match could be delayed depending on the outcome of a Southampton disciplinary hearing. One fan who had queued for tickets at the MKM Stadium in Hull said: "Spygate has ruined the feeling here. Hull City have done nothing wrong but it's still caused a lot of anger and worry." Southampton were charged by the EFL for watching one of Middlesbrough's training sessions within the 72-hour period before the semi-final first leg between the sides at the Riverside. The hearing, conducted by an independent disciplinary committee, will take place on or before Tuesday. Stephen Holmes, a Hull City fan who went to buy tickets for his grandsons, remained hopeful the match at Wembley would go ahead as scheduled. "There's too much money involved for the game to be cancelled. It's not really fair and Hull City are suffering

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May 20, 2026
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May 15, 2026 → May 20, 2026

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May 20, 2026·BBCT2 · Outlet report
Spygate appeal: Southampton lose appeal against expulsion from play-offs

EFL rules forbid any team from trying to watch another side training in the 72 hours before a game Southampton's appeal against being thrown out of the Championship play-off final for spying has been rejected. The match will now go ahead…

Read original at BBC →
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May 2026

3 updates
May 20, 2026·BBCT2 · Outlet reportLATEST
Spygate appeal: Southampton lose appeal against expulsion from play-offs

EFL rules forbid any team from trying to watch another side training in the 72 hours before a game Southampton's appeal against being thrown out of the Championship play-off final for spying has been rejected. The match…

Read original at BBC →
May 16, 2026·BBCT2 · Outlet reportKEY MOMENT
Mohamed Salah & Arne Slot: Liverpool unrest continues as Xabi Alonso chooses Chelsea

Mohamed Salah's latest unprompted public outburst will ratchet up the pressure on struggling Liverpool head coach Arne Slot by several notches. Salah first laid bare his frustrations with Slot and Liverpool after the…

Read original at BBC →
May 15, 2026·BBCT2 · Outlet reportOPENING
Spygate 'ruins mood' as Hull City fans queue for play-off tickets

Tickets for Hull City's Championship play-off final against Southampton have gone on sale, but fans say the row over the spygate scandal has "ruined the mood". The Tigers are set to be cheered on at Wembley by 35,984…

Read original at BBC →

Sources & evidence (3)

What this story stands on. Tier 0 is a primary record or the subject's own words; higher tiers must be attributed, never stated as bare fact.

T2 · Outlet report× 3
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T2 · Outlet reportBBCMay 20, 2026

EFL rules forbid any team from trying to watch another side training in the 72 hours before a game Southampton's appeal against being thrown out of the Championship play-off final for spying has been rejected. The match will now go ahead…

View source →
T2 · Outlet reportBBCMay 16, 2026

Mohamed Salah's latest unprompted public outburst will ratchet up the pressure on struggling Liverpool head coach Arne Slot by several notches. Salah first laid bare his frustrations with Slot and Liverpool after the 3-3 draw at Leeds…

View source →
T2 · Outlet reportBBCMay 15, 2026

Tickets for Hull City's Championship play-off final against Southampton have gone on sale, but fans say the row over the spygate scandal has "ruined the mood". The Tigers are set to be cheered on at Wembley by 35,984 supporters on…

View source →

Tier key: T0 = Primary source · T1 = Wire · T2 = Outlet report · T3 = Commentary

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