I can't see anything coming of this. If, as is claimed, it was dealt with at the time, it's done and dusted. Journos trying to create news. IMHO For me, the interesting bit is that these things are done under the radar.
Agreed, I think this is a bit of a non-story, though I'm also surprised it didn't come out at the time.
So last season we could have just played Aluko from the beginning of the season and only got a fine. We should remember that in future.
You must be joking. 3 points would be given to our opposition and we'd also face another points deduction on top. The FA and PL don't look after us, we're not one of the big clubs that brown noses them and gives them all the 'authority' they wish to have. There needs to be an uprising, the FA needs tearing down.
Sunderland have been fined for fielding an ineligible player in the Premier League earlier this season. The club were sanctioned after failing to receive international clearance when Ji Dong-Won returned to the club following a loan spell with Augsburg in Germany last season. The South Korean striker played in the first three matches of the season against Fulham, Crystal Palace and Southampton, as well as the clash with Manchester United in October, without international clearance. Sunderland alerted the Premier League to their error and will face no further punishment as the matter is now closed. Ji, who completed a permanent move back to Augsburg in January, also played in the 4-2 victory over MK Dons in the first round of the Capital One Cup last August, a win which sparked Sunderland's run to the final where they lost to Manchester City last month. http://news.sky.com/story/1237008/sunderland-fined-over-ineligible-player
A complete and utter shambles, they should be docked that point. Really, what is the point of football anymore? It's not a competition it's a circus scripted by the corrupt morons at the top.
The waters are muddied a little in this case because Ji was already a Sunderland player - he was only coming back to them from his loan spell. BUT the rules of the game stipulate that a player is either ELIGIBLE or INELIGIBLE to play - there is no grey area in between. It's one or the other. Black or White. Yes or No. You see teams in the lower leagues are docked points for breaching this rule every season - clerical error is no defence in their case and it should the same for ALL teams in the pyramid. Sunderland have got away with one and there'll be some grey suits at the FA sweating like hell hoping they go down now.....
It would indeed be interesting to see what happens, in the hypothetical scenario that they stay up by a single point...
And if they had points deducted it would be "Bruce's influence with the FA" if you are a knobhead Sunderland fan. Would love to hear Brooking or someone at the FA explain their decision.
The fact part of Bruce's answer is "This is the first I've heard about it" clearly shows the reporters brought it up with him. What's the betting that's being ignored elsewhere?
I can't believe Sunderland were not docked points, says Gus Poyet Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has admitted the Premier Leagueâs decision not to dock the club points for fielding an ineligible player on five occasions was âunbelievableâ. It emerged on Friday night that the clubâs relegation rivals, West Bromwich Albion, were seeking âfurther clarificationâ from the Premier League before exploring whether there may be grounds to launch a legal challenge. Poyet acknowledged that his team deserved to have suffered a points deduction for playing South Korea striker Ji Dong-Won without the necessary international clearance. Sunderlandâs offence and the subsequent Premier League decision only to issue a fine emerged on Thursday evening, but only after being exposed by journalists. The Premier League was last night not prepared to explain why it had tried to keep secret such a significant disciplinary matter. It is understood it decided against a points deduction because it deemed the offence to be a âlow level administrative errorâ, which occurred after Ji had been on loan in Germany, but Sunderlandâs own manager, Poyet, issued a withering condemnation of the Premier Leagueâs action.
Call me an old cynic but I expect the FA will 'have a quiet word' with referees to ensure the situation is dealt with in a manner that does not embarrass the ruling body.
I'd take it all with a pinch of salt. It's whipped up because Sunderland have banned the Sun from the ground. It's a minor admin glitch. If it had turned out it wouldn't have been approved, there could be an issue, but as far as I can see it's a form not filled in. Other clubs should be wary of joining a witch hunt over a technicality that's already been dealt with.
I disagree. Rules are there for everyone to abide to. If you then start saying "oh it does not matter cause it's only a bit of paper not filled in" then why have a rule. As mentioned, I expect a challenge from other teams that might get relegated on the back of this. If it is City I would be furious if Allam let this go.
They've abided by the rule and the governing body have issued a punishment based on the evidence. The press have brought no new evidence forward. It really is a non-issue.
