Does the Premier League have different rules than the FA?

[Nick Bateman]

The answer to the question is no, there is additional criteria for entry to the PL but they are under the jurisdiction of the FA.  They merely ACT as if they are above the FA in some matters in particular with this latest case.

AFC Wimbledon were recently deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player.  They could lose their status in Division 2 because of the punishment meted out by the FA.

Yet last month Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore confirmed Sunderland were guilty of the same offence which took place near the begining of the season over several games including a league match which they drew.

This was only revealed after clubs were about to discover the truth that the PL only administered a fine as a reprimand and not a points deduction.

In the event of Sunderland staying up gaining the advantage of playing an ineligible player in breach of LEGALLY BINDING FA rules this would be a scandal in the context of the "Tevez affair", which Scudamore presided over.

Recall Scudamore claimed he saw the contracts and Carlos Tevez was owned by West Ham and therefore eligible to play for them, when in fact his contract was owned by his agent Kia Joorabchian.  At the time, when clubs including Fulham, Blackbum, West Brom, Birmingham all objected, Scudamore basically told them all to "Shut up!"

But there were legal implications and some of the relegated teams that season were compensated  in exchange for their cooperation in not pursuing the matter further.

But in the event of Fulham going down by less than 3 points from Sunderland the Khan's legal eagles should be ready to take up the cudgel and sue Scudamore and the Premier League and get Fulham reinstated or heavily compensated. 

I know Mohamed Al Fayed would have done so.

[Jack Fulham]

Aren't AFC Wimbledon governed by the football league.

Premier League, Football League and FA are all seperate entities.

[ffctom_b]

punishment was handed out by Football League

[Nick Bateman]

I believe the Football League are under the auspices of the FA.

[SAFC Fan]

Evening, Sunderland fan in peace.

The circumstances were a bit different in the case of Wimbledon as far as I know.  Nicholson was ineligible, came on, scored, and Wimbledon won 4-3.  Ji was a Sunderland player who was out on loan abroad, he was recalled and through either an administrative error or incompetence he wasn't reregistered.

In the case of Ji at Sunderland he played four games.  Two were lost. 

At the Southampton game Sunderland were 1-0 up, Ji came on and we drew 1-1.  The last game was againf MK Dons on the league cup, Ji was playing we were 2-0 down, he was pulled off and we won 4-2.

His lack of contribution to the team while playing probably has something to do with the lack of a point deduction (which arguably should have been 1 point maximum).

Some fans have a petition requesting the PL award us 2 extra points for handicapping ourselves illegally to the  benefit of other teams.

[Berserker]

We have Bent for our handicap

[SAFC Fan]

We have Bent for our handicap

I see your Bent and raise you a Jozy Altidore.

Bent is one of those rare players who was great for us then crap afterwards.  Normally they go to hell after they get here.