The most expensive match in the world, as the second division final at Wembley for entry into the Premier League has been called for years, will likely be postponed.
Hull and Southampton were supposed to meet at the London temple of football on May 23rd, but the question is not only when the match will be played, but also who will be its protagonist.
English football is rocked by a spy scandal after it was discovered that Southampton had secretly and without authorization filmed Middlesbrough's training session before the first leg of the play-off semi-final.
According to English football regulations, filming an opposing team's training session is strictly prohibited, so Southampton faced accusations from the English Football League and proceedings were initiated.
The BBC writes that there is currently no predefined punishment system for such a case, but possible options include a fine, points deduction, and even Southampton being kicked out of the play-offs.
In that, the most drastic case, the defeated semi-finalist - Middlesbrough - would play against Hull in the final.
The process is taking time, and there is not much time - only 10 days, and because of that there is a real possibility that the match will not be played on May 23rd.
The entire case is causing enormous attention in England - it has grown into a scandal, unprecedented until recently.
Southampton and Middlesbrough played out a 0-0 draw in the first leg at the Riverside, while the Saints won the second leg at St Mary's 2-1 after extra time.
The "spying" was carried out on the eve of the first match - and everything came to light before the second leg.
"My heart is breaking," said Middlesbrough coach Kim Helberg after the elimination.
The Swedish expert, however, was not talking about the match itself - but about the scandal.
"If we hadn't caught the man they sent to drive five hours to us, you'd all be talking about how Southampton outmaneuvered their opponents tactically, and I'd be going home feeling like I'd failed," Helberg said.
"When someone takes that away from you - instead of analyzing games, they send someone to film training sessions and hope they don't get caught - it destroys everything I believe in," he added.
There is only one acceptable solution for Middlesbrough - for them to take to the Wembley pitch.
The decisions made in the coming days could mark not only this season, but also the future of both clubs.
"The most expensive match in the world", according to rough estimates, costs 200 million pounds. That's how much the winner - a new member of the Premier League - will earn.
Coventry and Ipswich have already qualified directly for the English football elite.
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