Hull v Middlesbrough LIVE: Team news from Championship play-off final after Spygate scandal | OneFootball

Hull and Middlesbrough will vie for Premier League promotion in football’s most lucrative game as they contest in a one-of-a-kind Championship play-off final this afternoon.

The circumstances surrounding this finale have been truly unprecedented, with Southampton being expelled from the play-offs after they were caught spying on Middlesbrough ahead of their semi-final tie, which the Saints won 2-1 on aggregate.

This meant that despite defeat, Boro were reinstated into the play-offs and after Southampton’s last-minute appeal was rejected, Kim Hellberg’s side now have a chance to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

Hull, who were left to watch the Spygate scandal unfold with uncertainty of who they would face at Wembley, sealed their place in the final via more conventional methods, beating third-place finishers Millwall to leave them potentially just 90 minutes away from top-flight football.

Hull vs Middlesbrough LIVE

Southampton are guilty of needless idiocy after £200m blunder

The club that wanted to know everything seemed to have missed one minor detail in their investigations. More than 12 hours after one of the more explosive announcements in EFL history, the main story on Southampton’s club website still concerned Ross Stewart’s call-up to Scotland’s World Cup squad. And ‘the Loch Ness Drogba’ will indeed be one of the best nicknames in the United States this summer.

A more immediate issue, however, was Southampton’s expulsion from the play-offs; even the four-point deduction applied to next season’s Championship campaign felt a footnote. Southampton launched an immediate appeal; should it fail, however, then this sorry episode will rank as one of the most expensive miscalculations in footballing history.

Before being thrown out, Southampton were the favourites to beat Hull in Saturday’s play-off final. Promotion could be worth £200m. Even put the morality of their amateurish antics to one side for a moment and this is the £200m cock-up.

Southampton are guilty of needless idiocy after £200m blunder

Saints have been expelled from the play-offs before Saturday’s final against Hull, with Middlesbrough taking their place, but, as Richard Jolly writes, the club are now set to deal with the stigma of being labelled as cheats for years to come

Will Castle23 May 2026 12:52

Middlesbrough team news

There could be mixed news for Middlesbrough with Tommy Conway set to miss this game due to the ankle injury that ended his chances of featuring for Scotland at the World Cup.

Hayden Hackney could be back amongst things, though.

Middlesbrough star player Hayden Hackney in action (Getty)

Will Castle23 May 2026 12:35

Hull team news

Kyle Joseph will be absent for Hull City after undergoing surgery on the injury sustained against Millwall.

Mohamed Belloumi made an excellent impact after being introduced for his stricken teammate and is a likely starter at Wembley.

Kyle Joseph suffered an injury that required surgery against Millwall (Getty)

Will Castle23 May 2026 12:30

Is the Championship play-off final on TV?

Hull vs Middlesbrough is due to be held at Wembley on Saturday 23 May. Kick off has been set for 3.30pm BST, an hour earlier than had been originally scheduled before Southampton’s expulsion.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with coverage from 2.30pm BST. A live stream will be available via Sky Go and NOW.

Will Castle23 May 2026 12:25

Hull vs Middlesbrough LIVE!

Hull and Middlesbrough will vie for Premier League promotion in football’s most lucrative game as they contest in a one-of-a-kind Championship play-off final this afternoon.

The circumstances surrounding this finale have been truly unprecedented, with Southampton being expelled from the play-offs after they were caught spying on Middlesbrough ahead of their semi-final tie, which the Saints won 2-1 on aggregate.

This meant that despite defeat, Boro were reinstated into the play-offs and after Southampton’s last-minute appeal was rejected, Kim Hellberg’s side now have a chance to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

Hull, who were left to watch the Spygate scandal unfold with uncertainty of who they would face at Wembley, sealed their place in the final via more conventional methods, beating third-place finishers Millwall to leave them potentially just 90 minutes away from top-flight football.

(PA)

Will Castle23 May 2026 12:20