Acun Ilicali, Hull City’s owner, has threatened legal action following Middlesbrough’s late participation in the Championship play-off final.

Southampton initially scheduled a meeting with Hull following their 2-1 semi-final aggregate victory over Middlesbrough, with the Tigers defeating Millwall to get to Wembley.

Why did Boro go to the play-off final despite losing to Southampton?

However, Saints’ victory was overshadowed by revelations that the south coast side’s backroom personnel were eavesdropping on Boro training sessions in the run-up to their final-four clash.

An independent panel reviewed all of the evidence, and the EFL decided to drop Southampton out of the play-offs, with Boro replacing them in today’s match against Hull.

The Saints challenged the ruling, which was denied earlier this week.

However, this is unlikely to be the end of the subject, as different legal challenges remain potential.

And now, owner Ilicali has stated to talkSPORT that if the Tigers lose on Saturday, he would take legal action, claiming Boro’s presence in the tournament despite already being ousted from the play-offs was not ‘fair’.

Why is Hull’s owner, Acun Ilicali, threatening legal action?

“We talked to our legal team and our lawyers are advising us to just go for an appeal,” Ilicali stated.

“Our lawyers are asking a single inquiry. If Southampton did anything so wrong, they may be barred from participating in the tournament. Why didn’t they call off the semi-final when they found out?

“They canceled the semi-final, judged it, and put Wrexham in. Why aren’t Wrexham in the semi-finals instead of Southampton, given their level of guilt?

“Why didn’t they decide after the final?” Why is everything settled right before the final?

“If Middlesbrough won the game 3-0, there was a significant factor that influenced the game, and we acknowledge that. We admire Middlesbrough. But there’s nothing wrong with this game.

“So they can’t put this game as a 3-0 game. They did not decide before the semi-finals whether they could freeze, decide, or proceed.

“Now it’s down to the final, and our opponent has been eliminated. We must be alone in the final. However, we are now presented with an eliminated team.

“I do not believe that is fair. Our lobbyists do not believe that is fair. I said that all we want is justice. There’s nothing more. If it is just, we will respect it. But if it is not justice, I believe it will end football around the world.”

Ilicalli clarified that Hull has not yet taken legal action.

He continued, “We don’t have the right to appeal at this time. Our lawyers stated that we are currently unable to take any action. So we’re simply waiting for the moment.

“Because legally, we may proceed to the High Court, and we are currently unable to do so.

“However, I am confident that England is a just country. I firmly believe in English law and fairness. So, whatever the justice, we want it to happen.”

Despite Ilicali’s legal threats, EFL chairman Rick Parry is certain the Championship play-off final outcome will stand.

Parry, speaking exclusively with talkSPORT’s Chief Football Correspondent Alex Crook at Wembley Stadium, believes that ‘we have to move on’ from the off-field drama.

Why Parry wants to’move on’ from the Spygate saga

Crook asked Parry if he is certain that whoever wins today will play Premier League football next season, to which the EFL boss said, “I hope so, absolutely of course. The season must end, and players leave for the World Cup on Monday.We all need clarity and certainty right now, and all of the examples in football show that, no matter how annoying it is at times, you tend to look at punishments prospectively.

“If you had to unravel the whole of the previous season’s league table, you would never get a competition finished.”Punishments should always be applied in a forward-thinking manner.So, again, if you look at the teams’ performances during the season, Middlesbrough has been in the automatic places for a long time, Hull has had a beautiful tale from almost avoiding relegation last season to the play-offs this season, contrasting stories, two great stories, it’s a great final.”

Crook questioned the precedent of a team being found guilty of spying on an impending opponent.Parry acknowledged that while the precedent is clear, new circumstances may arise in the future.While social media encourages us to think in black and white, the reality is that we must deal with a palette of grey. We cannot anticipate every possible outcome, whether minor or serious. This is a clear precedence.I don’t think many clubs will be spying on training in the future.”