Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has indicated he may pursue legal action after the Championship play-off final, claiming his club has a strong case for direct promotion to the Premier League following Southampton's expulsion. The East Yorkshire side faces Middlesbrough at Wembley on Saturday, with a top-flight spot at stake.
Ilicali's argument stems from Southampton being removed from contention for admitting to spying on other teams, alongside the elimination of Middlesbrough and Millwall, before Middlesbrough were reinstated to replace Southampton. He told the Press Association that his lawyers believe it is unfair for an eliminated team to return and reach the final.
The owner has temporarily halted legal discussions to ensure full focus on Saturday's match, but has not ruled out revisiting the matter. 'I stopped every communication in our club yesterday evening, everybody focus on the game,' he said, adding that eight of the ten days before the final were lost to discussions.
Ilicali praised Hull's players as 'heroes' for their resilience amid the uncertainty. While the winners are estimated to secure a £205 million revenue uplift over three seasons, he insisted his motivation is not financial: 'I didn't go into the football business to make money.'
'I believe in destiny,' he added. 'If it is good for us to go to the Premier League this year, let's go, but if it's going to be a bad future... it's better we go next year.'
