Spygate: Hull City have been ‘collateral damage’ in play-off controversy

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic has said his side have been “collateral damage” in the drama that has surrounded Southampton being thrown out of the Championship play-offs for spying.

The Tigers had been set to face the Saints for a place in the Premier League this weekend before they were expelled on Tuesday after admitting they spied on three clubs, including play-off semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, across the season.

Southampton appealed against the decision but this was dismissed on Wednesday and Hull, who beat Millwall in the other semi-final, will now play Boro instead.

“We can say everything is unfair in this last two weeks. You don’t know what’s going on,” he told BBC Radio Humberside.

“If you look from a Middlesbrough point of view they knew if they were successful they would play against us so I can turn the situation around but I will not do that. We will try to beat them on the pitch.

He added: “We are collateral damage because we are waiting on [a] opponent and you don’t know what’s going on, what’s happening.”

The Football Association is now investigating Southampton’s conduct and they have also been deducted four points for the start of the 2026-27 campaign.

The former Bosnia international said that his opinion on the case “doesn’t really matter”.

He acknowledged that he thinks pivoting to preparing for a different opponent would not be too awkward because “we know everything about them and they know everything about us”.

Jakirovic was asked if the events of the past 10 days had given him an extra incentive to win the game.

“Of course, this is what we can do,” he said.

“It’s in our power, we will try to win. It will be a demanding game. It will be difficult of course but we are in a good shape and good form. I hope we can win.”

Like their opponents on Saturday, Hull are looking to end a nine-year spell without Premier League football.