Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has described the actions behind the Spygate scandal as 'evil', casting a shadow over the Championship play-off final. The Tigers are scheduled to face Southampton at Wembley next Saturday, but the lucrative match could be postponed after the EFL charged the Saints with spying on Middlesbrough's training session ahead of their semi-final first leg.
Southampton risk expulsion from the play-offs, and an appeal process may force a delay. While Middlesbrough players and staff have been told to return to training on Monday, Ilicali offered his thoughts on the controversy.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Ilicali said: 'I don't know what the officials will decide. I don't want to make any statements because it's something that is being investigated. We don't know who is involved or who is responsible. At this time, it's better for me not to comment.'
When asked how he would feel if Hull were spied on, the Turkish businessman replied: 'I would be furious. If everything is completely true and there is zero doubt, I would be furious. And I would ask this question: How many times has it happened before? I would be very, very angry, of course, if everything is so solid. As a person, I don't understand why people do things like that.'
Ilicali added: 'I always run for justice in my life. But you see many things in life that surprise you, and on this I am surprised too. I know the owners of Southampton - they are good people and I am sure this is nothing to do with them. But whoever is involved on the technical side, I do not know. Whoever is involved, I think, put the evil in the football world this week.'
On whether Southampton should face expulsion, Ilicali remained diplomatic: 'I'm not sure. For example, what happens in a game if someone dives to help their side win a trophy? In football, there are sometimes these kind of things. The punishment, what it should be, it's hard to know without a clear mind. But in football, you can dive to win a penalty and get a penalty. Or hand of god, for example, some cheating happen in football sometimes.'
He continued: 'Whether they should be punished, and how they should be punished, it's hard for me to comment because, at the end of the day, they will probably be our opponent and I don't want to speak negatively about our opponent.'
Despite the uncertainty, Hull are preparing for their Wembley appearance, having secured a play-off spot on the final day. 'It's one game - a big game for us,' Ilicali said. 'If we win, we're going to be in the Premier League, and that's our dream. When you see our team, you see a very united team, everyone is dying for this game and the fans are very hungry.'
He added: 'These games are 50-50 games and crucial moments will decide. I think whether it's Southampton or Middlesbrough, it's 50-50 and we have every chance. If you asked me before which I'd like, I could not tell you because they are not superior to each other.'
