- Hull City owner Acun Ilicali confirmed he would take legal action if his team lost to Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final, following Middlesbrough's reinstatement to the competition.
- Ilicali believes Middlesbrough should not have been allowed back into the play-offs after Southampton's expulsion due to the 'Spygate' scandal, calling the decision “incredibly wrong” and stating his legal team supports this view.
- The play-off final is described as the 'richest game in football', with a place in the Premier League at stake and an estimated value of £200m to the winning team.
- EFL chairman Rick Parry dismissed the possibility of overturning the play-off final result, explaining that punishments in football are typically applied prospectively rather than retrospectively to avoid unravelling past season results.
- Southampton was expelled from the play-offs after admitting to spying on Middlesbrough's training sessions, as well as those of Oxford and Ipswich, though they maintained the punishment was disproportionate despite their apology.
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