The sporting calendar will put a squeeze on the Football League's attempts to reschedule the Championship play-off final if Spygate cannot be resolved in time.

Hull City are due to face Southampton at Wembley on May 23 in what is seen as the most lucrative game in world club football, with a place in the Premier League worth a significant nine-figure sum at stake.

But Southampton have been charged by the Football League with spying on Middlesbrough's training session two days before their semi-final first leg. Potential punishment range from fines to a points deduction in a future season or even expulsion from the tournament.

The Football League announced on Thursday that the case will be heard no later than Tuesday. But with the timeframe in the hands of an independent commission, there is no guarantee a decision will be reached that day. If it is, it will leave three clear days before the game is played, inconveniencing the teams involved and supporters.

But the timescale for playing the game at a later date is tight.

The Football League would surely like a weekend slot for its most high-profile game of the season, and a stadium with a large capacity, but options are restricted.

Wembley hosts the League One final the following day, and the League Two showpiece on the bank holiday Monday.

The following Saturday, May 30, is rugby league's Challenge Cup final day at Wembley, and the Sunday is women's FA Cup final day. The first pre-World Cup warm-up game due to feature a Hull player takes place on May 29.

BOOKED UP: Wembley is being used the weekend after the Football League play-offs (Image: Amir MAKAR / AFP) (Photo by AMIR MAKAR/AFP via Getty Images)

placeholder image — BOOKED UP: Wembley is being used the weekend after the Football League play-offs (Image: Amir MAKAR / AFP) (Photo by AMIR MAKAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Bosnia and Herzegovina have already named Hull midfielder Amir Hadziahmetovic in their World Cup squad. Their first warm-up friendly is against North Macedonia on May 29 as part of a pre-tournament training camp in Missouri. Bosnia's opening match of the tournament is on day two, June 12, against Panama.

Canada have a pre-World Cup training camp in Charlotte, USA, where they have a friendly against Uzbekistan at 2am UK time on June 2. They then play the Republic of Ireland in the small hours of June 6.

Having represented his country this season after recovering from cruciate knee ligament damage, Hull's Liam Millar has spoken of his dream of playing at a home World Cup, and coach Jesse Marsch will want his players together as soon as possible. He has negotiated the early release of Rangers centre-back Derek Cornelius so that he can join the camp early next week.

With Ross Stewart not expected to be named in Scotland's squad, Southampton may not have anyone at the tournament, but Middlesbrough's Tommy Conway (Scotland), Riley McGree (Australia), Sontje Hansen (Curacao) and Aiden Morris (USA) all hope to be.

PLAY-OFF FINAL: Hull City know they will be playing in the Championship play-off final - just not where, when, or against which team (Image: Warren Little/Getty Images)

Scotland play Cuacao in a Hampden Park friendly on May 30, the day of the Champions League final. The USA play their first warm-up game the following day.

Some football stadia will have planned work on their pitch and/or stands as soon as their season was scheduled to finish in order to give maximum time to be ready for the new season.