Pamplemousse

If the final had been postponed, the only two teams who would be contacted in advance are Hull and us. No rumours of it on Hull sites so would suspect it is a wind up

If the next ticket windows proceed as normal then hopefully that's a positive sign.

Yes, hence Gibbo's statement on Friday i.e. push for the maximum sanction or we sue

Easy to prove that a team gained a sporting advantage if for example you play someone who wasn't registered or should've been banned. Less so in this instance. Unless the EFL decide that the intent to gain a sporting advantage is sufficient for them go throw the book at us.

Bring back Don Cortese to take on Gibbo

Stop ruining this thread please.

They have a point tbh.

There were some greyed out areas behind the goal but don't recall any individual blocks being greyed out.

Let's put it like this. The absence of that information would be more concerning than otherwise.

Potentially, yes. Hence why I said it may not mean anything. But it is unusual to finalise referee appointments before the two teams are confirmed. So people can read into it what they like or ignore it.

Some info, the match officials for the play off final were finalised yesterday, which would be unusual if the two teams weren't already confirmed. https://ratetheref.createaforum.com/select-group-premier-league/efl-play-offs-2026/60/ Insider referee's forum, they publish them there before they get officially announced. It may not mean anything but it may suggest that the EFL aren't actively pushing for us to be disqualified. Would also explain Middlesbrough's hissy fit statement.

If anyone can correct me then feel free, but as far as I can tell, no team has ever been disqualified from a competition for spying, in any sport. The most famous spying example in sport was in F1 when McLaren had a 700-odd page technical document obtained from Ferrari. That's not really comparable to a bloke with an iPhone is it? They did get a £100million fine but the drivers were still allowed to compete in races. Middlesbrough fans should perhaps put all of that into perspective.

170

I wonder which teams voted against? Wrexham? Birmingham? They're the two big spenders

The EFL will propose or recommend a sanction

The following weekend is the Rugby League Challenge Cup final so that's out. And of course the pitch would need to be prepared in time.

It's worked, I fucking hate them and will do so for a long time. Hope MLG adds the rivalry for the next FM Database...

That statement is laying the groundwork for them suing the EFL. Which they did before with Derby.

That reads like another attempt to put undue pressure on those concerned. Which they wouldn't need to do if things were going their way...

This from a Hull fan: There is no substance in this suggestion of a re-arranged Tuesday game at all, other than looking at the impact of the World Cup... the problem is that, if Southampton are eliminated, then their likely appeal is the going to be the key problem, and extremely unlikely that an appeal could be heard, and resolved and the other finalist decided before Tuesday 26 May. The clear reality, in my eyes, and probably the better story to promote here is that there has to be almost zero chance that Southampton will be "eliminated" What everyone seems to be missing here is that Middlesboro could have won the play off tie - the charge would still stand and Southampton would still be accordingly punished with fine/points deduction. I.e. the sanctions which the EFL/Disciplinary Panel, wish to impose, cannot be predicated upon the outcome of football matches - think about what that would mean for any future spying situation... in the regular season... if a team caught spying, won that related match... is the fixture reversed in favour of the "innocent" team, after the event - and if so, by what score... which then potentially impacts goal difference (which as we Tigers know) can end up being crucial Therefore, it seems so incredibly obvious to me that this Disciplinary Panel are not going to open up a monumental can of worms, by reversing the outcome of the Southampton/Middlesboro match, and are instead, sensibly, going to impose a fine/points deduction, which can then be used any future as a precedent, across the board, without having to interfere with what happens/happened on the football pitch, as well as impacting other teams...

I cannot see a world where the EFL appeal, knowing that their showpiece match gets postponed as a result. If anything, us being in the final will generate interest as the most controversial final perhaps ever. Good publicity and will generate more revenue for their member clubs.

This is from Hull Supporters' Trust: The Hull City Official Supporters' Club also issued a statement in which they expressed concern at how the play-off final could be moved at short notice. "This is a situation in which we have had no influence but in which we are, both as a football club and supporters, being penalised," they said. "Any decision to move the date of the final will result in many of our supporters not only losing out financially, but then facing the prospect of being unable to attend the re-arranged fixture. "Given that this is a situation which has largely resulted from the EFL's own error in failing to publish the sanctions for a breach of the rule regarding 'spying' on opposition teams, we feel this is manifestly unfair." That last paragraph is interesting about the EFL not publishing sanctions for a breach of the rule. I wonder if that will be taken into account by the commission?

I feel sorry for their fans. It's a long way to go and the uncertainty isn't fair. That's why this hearing should take place after the final.

If it is Hull v Boro, very unlikely that takes place on the Saturday as we'd appeal. So no advantage gained there. Hull can prepare to face us until anyone says otherwise.