Hull City Seal £205 Million Promotion With 94th-Minute Winner in 1-0 Play-off Final
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 23
Hull City Seal £205 Million Promotion With 94th-Minute Winner in 1-0 Play-off Final
13 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 23
Oli McBurnie struck in the 94th minute at Wembley to give Hull City a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough and send them back to the Premier League after nine years away.
The victory is worth at least £205 million over the next three seasons, according to Deloitte, and could exceed £365 million if Hull avoid immediate relegation.
Hull’s rise was stark: Sergej Jakirovic’s side finished 21st last season, survived on goal difference, then reached the play-offs on the final day and came through all three knockout games without conceding.
The final unfolded under the shadow of the EFL spying scandal that saw Southampton expelled after beating Middlesbrough in the semi-finals, clearing the way for Boro to take their place.
After a final born from scandal, does Hull's dramatic promotion feel like a fairytale or a tainted victory?
Has the 'Spygate' ruling truly secured football's integrity or just opened a Pandora's box of legal challenges?
When promotion is worth over £170 million, can any punishment for cheating ever be truly proportional?