Hull City name change back on following arbitration case
Hull City could still become known as "Hull Tigers" after an independent panel cleared the way for the football club to reapply for a name change.
Chairman Assem Allam's plans to change the suffix to Hull's name appeared to be thwarted when the Football Association (FA) Council blocked the move last April.
However, an independent panel has "set aside" that decision for placing too much weight on the objection from fans who campaigned against the new moniker.
Hull launched an arbitration case against the FA's original decision, the outcome of which has been released today in a 30-page document released by the FA.
An FA statement reveals that "The tribunal held that although a committee member is entitled to place great weight on the views of supporters, it should not be the only factor to be considered when exercising his or her discretion."
An official club statement read:
The arbitration panel ruled unanimously in the club's favour, setting the FA's decision aside, effectively leaving the club's original application unanswered. The ball is now in the FA's possession, with the club seeking clarification on how the FA will proceed in a fair and un-bias [sic] manner.
Until such time we are unable to make any further comment and our focus is solely on supporting Steve Bruce and our team as they battle against relegation from the Barclays Premier League.