Hull promoted to Premier League after McBurnie strikes late in play-off final
Hull striker Oli McBurnie celebrates scoring the winner against Middlesbrough (Ben STANSALL) Hull City were promoted to the Premier League in dramatic fashion as Oli McBurnie's last-gasp strike sealed a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough in Saturday's Championship play-off final, bringing an end to the 'spygate' controversy that overshadowed world football's richest match. McBurnie punished a mistake from Middlesbrough goalkeeper Sol Brynn to bag the lucrative winner in the final moments of the second half at Wembley. Hull will return to the Premier League for the first time since 2016-17, completing an incredible revival just 12 months after they avoided relegation to the third tier on goal difference.
McBurnie's late goal hit the jackpot for Hull, with football finance experts Deloitte estimating the play-off final winners will earn at least £205 million ($275 million) over the next three seasons due to increased match-day, broadcast and commercial revenues. That could rise to around £365 million if the club survives their first season in the Premier League. Football League chiefs will hope Hull's victory brings an end to the scandal that marred the second tier play-offs after Southampton were kicked out for filing a Middlesbrough training session prior to their semi-final first leg.
Southampton had beaten Middlesbrough 2-1 on aggregate to earn a final showdown with Hull. But the Saints were expelled on Tuesday, with an independent commission ruling their boss Tonda Eckert had "specifically authorised" the spying. The English Football League said Southampton admitted to "multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs' training".
Southampton chief executive Phil Parsons said the sanctions imposed were "manifestly disproportionate". The row had presented Middlesbrough with a second chance to win promotion, but they were unable to seize the lifeline as Hull ground out a hard-fought victory in scorching heat. That will be a relief to many at Football League headquarters after Hull owner Acun Ilicali vowed to take legal action if the Tigers did not beat Middlesbrough.
Sergej Jakirovic's side are the first sixth-placed team to win promotion via the second tier play-offs since Blackpool in 2010. The Tigers, who beat third-placed Millwall to secure their place in the final, have been the division's surprise package all season. They were hit with a three-window transfer embargo last year, later reduced to two after a successful appeal, but confounded expectations to snatch a play-off place on the last day of the season.