Spygate 'ruins mood' as Hull City fans queue for play-off tickets

Tickets for Hull City's Championship play-off final against Southampton have gone on sale, but fans say the row over the spygate scandal has "ruined the mood".

The Tigers are set to be cheered on at Wembley by 35,984 supporters on Saturday, 23 May, with hopes of reaching the Premier League.

But the sale has surrounded by uncertainty after the English Football League (EFL) said the match could be delayed depending on the outcome of a Southampton disciplinary hearing.

One fan who had queued for tickets at the MKM Stadium in Hull said: "Spygate has ruined the feeling here. Hull City have done nothing wrong but it's still caused a lot of anger and worry."

Southampton were charged by the EFL for watching one of Middlesbrough's training sessions within the 72-hour period before the semi-final first leg between the sides at the Riverside.

The hearing, conducted by an independent disciplinary committee, will take place on or before Tuesday.

Stephen Holmes, a Hull City fan who went to buy tickets for his grandsons, remained hopeful the match at Wembley would go ahead as scheduled.

"There's too much money involved for the game to be cancelled. It's not really fair and Hull City are suffering for someone else's mistakes," he said.

The Spygate situation was the hot topic for Tigers fans as they braved chilly conditions to queue around the MKM Stadium.

One said: "We've already paid train fares [and] people have booked hotels. If it doesn't go ahead then it's the fans that will be punished and Hull City have done nothing wrong."

Another added: "It has spoiled the occasion. You don't get to Wembley that often and now we've got a load uncertainty."

Others said they were concerned the game could be moved to another date and about the impact that would have.

Rob Fletcher, 66, said: "What about families, people who have work commitments? It's a complete farce and should have been sorted. I'm worried the game might not happen.

"If they move it to midweek, what about the kids who go to school? Should they miss out on Wembley? It's not fair."

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