Match Day Thread Play Off Final. Hull City v Boro
- Thread starter Chazz Rheinhold
- Start date
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Back in the day I think City signing England international Neil Franklin was probably bigger. Forget the details now but he'd been playing in South America, I think, and had been banned in this country for some reason. He was a big name at the time.
Plod drone, on a matchday all stadia are restricted flight zones.
The views expressed in this post are 67% recycled.
I did a tour of the Mestalla when in Valencia and that’s at the opposite extreme, very steep stands and the supporters close to the pitch, no wonder it’s got a reputation for atmosphere.
So. I asked Gemini AI on my phone how it would resolve this?
The "Spygate" crisis surrounding Southampton and Middlesbrough has thrown the EFL Championship Playoff Final into complete chaos just over a week before kick-off. With an independent disciplinary commission set to hear the case by Tuesday, May 19, the EFL is trapped between a logistical nightmare and a sporting integrity disaster.
Resolving this cleanly is nearly impossible, but the best approach must balance punishment for wrongdoing, fairness to innocent parties, and minimal disruption for fans.
Here is how the situation can be best resolved, weighed across the only realistic options available to the EFL:
Option 1: The Fast-Track Financial & Sporting Sanction (The Most Realistic Resolution)
The Action: Find Southampton guilty, issue a massive financial penalty (well exceeding the £200,000 fine Leeds United received for a similar incident in 2019), and apply a severe suspended points deduction for next season (regardless of which division they are in), alongside a lengthy ban for the analyst involved. The final goes ahead on May 23 as scheduled: Hull City vs. Southampton.
Why it works best: It completely protects the match-going fans. Thousands of Hull and Southampton supporters have already started making travel and accommodation arrangements for Wembley. Moving the date or changing the opponent at the 11th hour financially penalizes innocent fans during a cost-of-living crisis. Furthermore, Middlesbrough did lose the semi-final on the pitch over 180 minutes plus extra time; retrospectively changing football results off the pitch creates a dangerous precedent.
Option 2: Expulsion and Reinstatement (The Maximum Integrity Resolution)
The Action: Kick Southampton out of the playoffs entirely and reinstate Middlesbrough to play Hull City.
The Catch: To do this fairly, the final must be postponed. Middlesbrough's players were on the verge of starting their summer holidays before being told to return to training on Friday "just in case." Expecting them to prepare for the biggest game in club football in just four days after a bruising extra-time defeat would completely compromise the sporting integrity of the final.
Why it's highly problematic: Reinstating Middlesbrough would trigger immediate legal appeals from Southampton, likely tying the EFL up in court for months. It would also leave Hull City and their fans completely in limbo, unsure of who they are playing, when they are playing, or how to rebook Wembley travel.
Option 3: The Automatic Promotion Walkover (The Radical Option)
The Action: Expel Southampton and award Hull City an automatic walkover victory and promotion to the Premier League.
Why it's problematic: While Hull fans might rejoice at an easy path to the top flight, it strips the EFL of its crown-jewel event—the "richest match in football"—costing millions in broadcast revenue, ticket sales, and global prestige. It also denies a third team the legitimate sporting chance to earn promotion.
The Verdict: How the EFL Should Proceed
The EFL must prioritize the fans and the logistical reality while heavily penalizing the systemic rule-breaking. The independent commission should:
Deliver a swift verdict on Tuesday, May 19: Do not delay the hearing.
Keep the May 23 Fixture: Allow Hull City vs. Southampton to go ahead to protect match-going fans and commercial commitments.
Hit Southampton with Historic Sanctions: If proven guilty, hit the club with a record-shattering fine and a mandatory 12-to-15 point deduction to be applied next season. If Southampton win promotion, they start life in the Premier League at a massive disadvantage; if they lose, their next Championship campaign is severely crippled.
This approach ensures that espionage is met with a genuinely deterrent punishment, without destroying the summer plans of tens of thousands of ordinary football fans.
The "Spygate" crisis surrounding Southampton and Middlesbrough has thrown the EFL Championship Playoff Final into complete chaos just over a week before kick-off. With an independent disciplinary commission set to hear the case by Tuesday, May 19, the EFL is trapped between a logistical nightmare and a sporting integrity disaster.
Resolving this cleanly is nearly impossible, but the best approach must balance punishment for wrongdoing, fairness to innocent parties, and minimal disruption for fans.
Here is how the situation can be best resolved, weighed across the only realistic options available to the EFL:
Option 1: The Fast-Track Financial & Sporting Sanction (The Most Realistic Resolution)
The Action: Find Southampton guilty, issue a massive financial penalty (well exceeding the £200,000 fine Leeds United received for a similar incident in 2019), and apply a severe suspended points deduction for next season (regardless of which division they are in), alongside a lengthy ban for the analyst involved. The final goes ahead on May 23 as scheduled: Hull City vs. Southampton.
Why it works best: It completely protects the match-going fans. Thousands of Hull and Southampton supporters have already started making travel and accommodation arrangements for Wembley. Moving the date or changing the opponent at the 11th hour financially penalizes innocent fans during a cost-of-living crisis. Furthermore, Middlesbrough did lose the semi-final on the pitch over 180 minutes plus extra time; retrospectively changing football results off the pitch creates a dangerous precedent.
Option 2: Expulsion and Reinstatement (The Maximum Integrity Resolution)
The Action: Kick Southampton out of the playoffs entirely and reinstate Middlesbrough to play Hull City.
The Catch: To do this fairly, the final must be postponed. Middlesbrough's players were on the verge of starting their summer holidays before being told to return to training on Friday "just in case." Expecting them to prepare for the biggest game in club football in just four days after a bruising extra-time defeat would completely compromise the sporting integrity of the final.
Why it's highly problematic: Reinstating Middlesbrough would trigger immediate legal appeals from Southampton, likely tying the EFL up in court for months. It would also leave Hull City and their fans completely in limbo, unsure of who they are playing, when they are playing, or how to rebook Wembley travel.
Option 3: The Automatic Promotion Walkover (The Radical Option)
The Action: Expel Southampton and award Hull City an automatic walkover victory and promotion to the Premier League.
Why it's problematic: While Hull fans might rejoice at an easy path to the top flight, it strips the EFL of its crown-jewel event—the "richest match in football"—costing millions in broadcast revenue, ticket sales, and global prestige. It also denies a third team the legitimate sporting chance to earn promotion.
The Verdict: How the EFL Should Proceed
The EFL must prioritize the fans and the logistical reality while heavily penalizing the systemic rule-breaking. The independent commission should:
Deliver a swift verdict on Tuesday, May 19: Do not delay the hearing.
Keep the May 23 Fixture: Allow Hull City vs. Southampton to go ahead to protect match-going fans and commercial commitments.
Hit Southampton with Historic Sanctions: If proven guilty, hit the club with a record-shattering fine and a mandatory 12-to-15 point deduction to be applied next season. If Southampton win promotion, they start life in the Premier League at a massive disadvantage; if they lose, their next Championship campaign is severely crippled.
This approach ensures that espionage is met with a genuinely deterrent punishment, without destroying the summer plans of tens of thousands of ordinary football fans.
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I hope you have learned NEVER to arrange anything during the season!
Wasn't it the Club who put it up T.W? I'm pretty sure they showed aerial shots on Sky and thanked the owner for putting a drone up?Plod drone, on a matchday all stadia are restricted flight zones.
The views expressed in this post are 67% recycled.
I could of course be talking one load of sh!t(not uncommon) but it matters not as this message will self combust in 5-4-3-2-1....Over to you
need help
decided to go, trying to buy 4 tickets, 2 for my pass, 2 on my daughters, but it wont let me buy the 2
she is linked to my account and its set so i can buy tickets for her, whats happening?
decided to go, trying to buy 4 tickets, 2 for my pass, 2 on my daughters, but it wont let me buy the 2
she is linked to my account and its set so i can buy tickets for her, whats happening?
I'm all for radical!
Seems now a matter of integrity v's money.
Integrity should trump the unfortunate consequences mentioned above of cancelling the game and giving us a bye.
If found guilty, which seems undeniable, surely there is no way that Southampton can be allowed to play for promotion to the PL. If they do, then it stinks, and EFL lose all integrity imho.
Well you know when someone volunteers followed by lots of heads down , shuffling of feet and muffled thanksDid none of the 32 decide to help him out?
No it was Google Chrome. Just kept kicking me out for restrictions. Eventually it worked on my laptop, also on Google Chrome, on the same network. Bizarre.
I had the "worst" seats for Bristol City and it was still a good view.
I cant apply until Sunday and I want 4 tickets but I doubt I'll get cat 1.
Wembley doesnt really have bad views other than the height of the top tier makes it hard to see what's going on properly.
try allocating 2 to you and 2 to your daughter...you each get a plus one
I spent my time counting every minute from the 38th.
Does it just mean there aren't 4 seats available next to each other ?
What section are you trying for ?
Even at 8:30am there were tons of single seats scattered around. I wanted cat 3 but ended up in 119 cat 2 as couldnt get 4 together in the ones behind the goal and corner.
Ive a feeling we will be sold out by sunday night just about.
Just make sure you can manage the other accounts. It will say on your account friends and family section.
yeah thats what i was struggling with, didnt realise you had to physically do that, i assumed it would pick up you had 2 passes, etc ........ was rushing before wife changed her mind.....
im in 515 near the front, cant take your credit card with you can you!! Up The sort the Logistics out later Tigers!!