Hull City owner Acun Ilicali and manager Sergej Jakirovic react to the latest Southampton ‘Spygate’ controversy.
With just under a week to go until the Championship playoff final, Hull City still don’t know who they will be facing amid the Spygate scandal.
As it stands, it’s Southampton, but that’s with uncertainty and far from ideal for Sergej Jakirovic and his team. Frustrating for fans too with the date potentially to change.
Ilicali said Hull Daily Mail on continuing preparations as normal: “This is football, and there is a saying that I really like and believe in, ‘football is not just football’, so you can see that all this week has been so many things going on without the pitch and without the football field.
“I don’t want to comment on anything at the moment about these things. I have asked my players to fully focus on the game.
“Maybe it looks like it’s not a comfortable situation for our boys, but they know what to do, and I believe in them, so with any result, we have the full respect.”
Looking to the day itself: “We want to have a big show, so I think it will be a beautiful day. Near the stadium, we are planning a big organisation that will show everybody how big a family we are, so I’m inviting all of our fans before the game near the stadium area, and I will be there too.”
Reacting on progressing from the playoff semi final: “I will be very honest, if we were to be eliminated in the semi-finals, in my mind, I accepted it before the game. We were aiming for the top 10 and reaching the play-offs, which was, for me, a fantastic year. I was very OK to be out in the semi-finals, but when we go to the final now, actually, the pressure, tension and excitement came to me, and I’m very excited.”
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic is urging the EFL not to rearrange next weekend’s Championship play-off final after seeing his team become “collateral damage” in the Southampton ‘spygate’ saga.
An independent disciplinary hearing, scheduled for no later than next Tuesday,… pic.twitter.com/gzvicSXMhI
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 15, 2026
On the 8th of May, Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic said: “Why do you need to spy? We played already. I know everything about everything. What Middlesbrough will surprise (with?) He will put 14 players? What? Unbelievable. Really?”
He was asked by BBC Radio Humberside: “If it’s Southampton will you be increasing security around the training ground?”
Jakirovic responded: “Do everything to get there. So we will prepare good. We have 12 days so we can prepare everything and we will see who will be our opponent.”
Interviewer: “Do you have a preference?”
Jakirovic: “No, no. Final is a final and we will try to, no matter who is opponent, to win this one.”
Interviewer: “If it’s Southampton will you be increasing security around the training ground?”
Jakirovic: “Even they can watch. I don’t know, but this is a serious matter. I see in England, if it’s in my country, it will be like, OK, they watch training, but here I think it will be big problem for them.”
🗣️ “They can watch”
🎧 Asked @HullCity boss Sergej Jakirovic after the game last night what his thoughts were if it was to be Southampton they faced in the playoff final given the ongoing controversy of #Spygate.#hcafc @RadioHumberside pic.twitter.com/BPg6aDx6lk
— Mike White (@mikewhitesport) May 12, 2026
Published on the 15th of May, Jakirovic said to The Athletic: “I can say we, Hull City, are collateral damage. Nobody is speaking about us. We deserved to beat Millwall over two games. We proved everything on the pitch, everything is clear.
“To me, the biggest problem is if they postpone the Saturday game. This would be the biggest problem. How can you keep focus and concentration of the players after a very long season?
“When we won at Millwall on Monday, already we start to prepare for (next) Saturday’s game. We started to prepare for Southampton on Tuesday because they won.”
Jakirovic added: “Our complete focus and concentration is on the final. The investigation is going on so we will see what will happen.
“I can imagine how Kim Hellberg feels. Our full focus is on the final game and this is Southampton. Southampton is our opponent because they beat Middlesbrough in two games so I am expecting Southampton. If they change something, then we will prepare for another game.”
Jakirovic said to The Telegraph: “The game must be Saturday. Because how can I keep focus and concentration for the players if they will postpone this game?
“We played two games in three days and then you’re waiting 12 days for the final. Why? They need to change this. If you are playing Friday, then you can play [the second leg] Tuesday, Wednesday.
“If there are more days for recovery then the fans can expect better performances. Because to play [the second leg] on the third day [after the first leg], it’s very, very dangerous, especially at the end of the season. So they can change this. And then after five, six days, there is a final. Because [the gap] it’s too long. Next Saturday must be the game.
“We have just focused on ourselves. Before the first leg, I didn’t know about this spy affair, spygate, whatever. I said: ‘Why are they doing this because I know everything about Southampton because we played them two times already?’
“We are preparing for Southampton in the final because they won against Middlesbrough. Then we will see. Maybe they will change something, God knows! If it’s in my country, normal, we are playing against Southampton, that’s it. But OK there are rules. I just focus on my team and the preparation.”
Middlesbrough release strong statement calling for Southampton to be banned from playoff final
‘What a mess’ – Fans make feelings known as EFL give update on ‘Spygate’ and playoff final
Here’s the social media reaction as Hull owner Acun Ilicali and manager Sergej Jakirovic react to ‘Spygate’ controversy…
@paulharper75: City winning the final is now the ONLY justified result that can happen. Southampton win, they’ll have the cheating tag. ‘boro win, they’ll have the ‘They got knocked out in the semi final’ tag. I really hope the Tigers can pull one more rabbit out of the hat. #hcafc
@SaintsDanSFC: You have to simply feel for Hull City at the moment in all honesty, it’s like they are also being Penalised and Affected by the Spying Incident even though they’ve done absolutely nothing wrong whatsoever. And I’m saying that as a Southampton Fan!! #SaintsFC #HCAFC #HCFC
@aeroplanejacko: For what it’s worth I think Southampton will get a massive fine + points deduction next season. needs the decision announced quickly though 2 remove all this uncertainty and our lot can enjoy the build up next week. For note i’ll be watching in Lanzarote you jammy lot
@ItzKBanno: Southampton won’t get kicked out, they will just get fine and points deducted when they are in the championship. Thats it full stop. Hull City ( 2 ) vs Southampton ( 0 ) 🐯🥳 #hcafc
@NewDorn: Game must go on. Too many fans screwed otherwise. Play the game. The result may well help @EFL. If Hull win they don’t need to kick Saints out, and can then impose a fine/points deduction for next season. More complicated if Hull lose, but they still have options. #HCAFC
Gotta get this one belting around Wembley lads! Up the Wembley Tigers! #hcafc #saintsfc #spygate pic.twitter.com/qY03vA3D5z
— Danny (@ExileAryui) May 16, 2026
Love this comment on the Athletic’s piece with Jakirovic over on Facebook.
😂 #hcafc pic.twitter.com/xZsaoIddZd
— Craig Bell (@Ambraneri) May 16, 2026
