04 May 2014 07:47:55
We're not safe yet! With a potential legal action by Cardiff, Fulham and Norwich to have points deducted for playing an ineligible player, this may drag on into the summer.

1.) 04 May 2014
Cardiff, Fulham and Norwich are clutching at straws now. They've known about it long enough.
Yes a mistake was made by safc. That person has left that post, safc reported it to the league straight away and we were fined. The good thing is as we were playing so poor we never won them games so never gained any extra points.

2.) 04 May 2014
All these clubs have a very good case and Sunderland and the Premier League are on dodgy ground.

Look at it from the other angle: if Sunderland were relegated and another club has fielded an in eligible player, would Sunderland and the fans feel aggrieved. Of course they would.

3.) 04 May 2014
Its one thing to feel aggrieved - another to get the decision overturned - no club complained when they became aware and it appears he was always registered with the EPL, he just wasn't registered with FIFA for drug testing. It will take a fortune to sue - the clubs involved will have neither the resources or probably more importantly the time to get any action completed before the deadline for the new season.

4.) 04 May 2014
There was a similar situation with Tevez at West Ham and Sheffield United's complaint. United's relegation was not overturned and that should give us some hope. If we lose the points we gained while Ji was playing, it won't make any difference so the fine is probably the right punishment.

5.) 04 May 2014
Looking at the news posts on yahoo, the premier league has said we're not getting docked points, which should be the end of it.

6.) 05 May 2014
Absolutely naive: it doesn't matter what the PL says if this goes to Court. So no, it isn't the end of it.

What is more pertinent is the comment from Jimbo - which is precedent (Tevez case). Precedent will be used in any legal case; however, there are other precedents which have led to points deductions, albeit outside of the PL.

The fact remains: if Jimmy Hill had signed an illegal player for another club and Sunderland had been relegated as a result, there would be uproar. let's not be hypocritical.

7.) 05 May 2014
Not really Dave, this is a special case, it's not like we fielded a totally inelegible player, 99% of his paperwork was correct, it was just in regards to one tiny point which has happened many times before, and been handled the exact same way. He was a Sunderland player at the time, just part of the registration after his loan finished was missed due to a technical error.

Sunderland handled it in accordance with premier league rules, reported it the moment it came to light & the punishment was handed down.

8.) 06 May 2014
So fatdave which relegated team do you support?
Yes we would be complaining if another team played a unregistered player with the EPL and helped that team gain points as would most of the league but this is not what happened with sunderland.
The league and safc on very dodgy ground? And you call us naive.
The fact remains that your team will be relegated from poor performances this season which has nothing to do with us.
Suggest you write to your club asking why the poor performances and why they agreed with the leagues decision then when find themselves relegated decide to appeal it.

9.) 16 May 2014
Would only take a maximum of 3 points anyway, they could take a 5 point deduction and we would still stay up, can't see these teams wasting their time and money to be honest, sounds like another gutless rumour tbh